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transcriptase

American  
[tran-skrip-tays, -tayz] / trænˈskrɪp teɪs, -teɪz /

noun

Biochemistry.
  1. RNA polymerase.


transcriptase British  
/ trænˈskrɪpteɪz /

noun

  1. See reverse transcriptase

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of transcriptase

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


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

While both drugs target the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase enzyme to prevent viral replication, they do so through entirely different biochemical pathways.

From Barron's ● Feb. 25, 2026

Islatravir, meanwhile, is what’s known as a nucleoside reverse transcriptase translocation inhibitor, a novel drug that is significantly more potent.

From Barron's ● Feb. 25, 2026

To verify that this effect truly depended on TE activity, the researchers used reverse transcriptase inhibitors, which stop TEs from copying themselves.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 27, 2025

Reverse transcriptase is also used by a unique family of viruses, known as retroviruses, to replicate themselves.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2025

The enzyme reverse transcriptase transcribes DNA to RNA, then again to DNA.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

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