Reverse Transcription (Teminism)

Reverse transcription is the process by which DNA is synthesized from an RNA template.

\[\mathrm{RNA}\quad\xrightarrow{\text{reverse transcription}}\quad\mathrm{DNA}\quad\xrightarrow{\text{transcription}}\quad\mathrm{mRNA}\quad\xrightarrow{\text{translation}}\quad\mathrm{Protein}\]

Reverse Transcription is the process of synthesizing a complementary DNA (cDNA) strand from an RNA template, catalyzed by the enzyme Reverse Transcriptase (RNA-dependent DNA Polymerase).
- Exclusive to retroviruses

• Also called Teminism - named after its co-discoverer, Howard M. Temin.​
• The enzyme responsible is: RNA-dependent DNA Polymerase (Reverse Transcriptase).
• This process directly contradicts the classical Central Dogma, which states genetic information flows strictly from DNA to RNA​.

Discovery: Historical Background:

• Reverse transcription is the synthesis of complementary DNA (cDNA) from an RNA template by the enzyme reverse transcriptase (RNA-dependent DNA polymerase).
• It is also called Teminism, after Howard Temin, and occurs only in retroviruses.
• It contradicts the Central Dogma, since the flow here is RNA → DNA (not DNA → RNA).
• Discovered independently in 1970 by Temin and Baltimore in retroviruses.
• They won the 1975 Nobel Prize (with Dulbecco); it laid the foundation for retrovirology.