Absence of reverse transcriptase activity in human diploid fibroblasts.
The reverse flow of genetic information from RNA transcripts to DNA has been postulated to be the mechanism for the generation of pseudogenes, dispersed repetitious DNA families, and small extrachromosomal circular DNAs in eukaryotic cells. We were unable to detect reverse transcriptase-like activity in several strains of cultured human cells, with or without induction by a variety of chemical and physical agents known to induce latent retroviruses.
Srivastava
A
A
Department of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Geriatric Research Education, Little Rock.
Shmookler Reis
R J
RJ
Goldstein
S
S
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004171:Diploidy; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase