transcriptase

[tran-skrip-teys, -teyz]

noun

Biochemistry.

1. RNA polymerase.

transcriptase

/ trænˈskrɪpteɪz /

noun

1. See reverse transcriptase

Word History and Origins

Origin of transcriptase¹

First recorded in 1963; transcript(ion) + -ase

Example Sentences

The discovery of reverse transcriptase was greeted with overheated predictions that science had at last found a cure for cancer.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

One component is the prime editor, which combines a SpCas9 protein, used in the first CRISPR-Cas gene editing technology, and a reverse transcriptase, an enzyme that transcribes RNA into DNA.

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Retrons carry an enzyme called reverse transcriptase that builds DNA strands based on RNA.

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The enzyme, reverse transcriptase, is encoded by LINE-1 elements, sequences that litter 17% of the human genome and represent artifacts of ancient infections by retroviruses.

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Having a drug from a new class is important, because the rise of resistance to one drug from any class — such as fusion inhibitors or reverse transcriptase inhibitors — often creates cross-resistance to all similar drugs.

Read more on Seattle Times