What does the enzyme reverse transcriptase do?

The enzyme reverse transcriptase is primarily known for its role in converting RNA into DNA. This process is crucial in the life cycle of retroviruses, such as HIV, which use reverse transcriptase to synthesize DNA from their RNA genome. Once the RNA is reverse transcribed into DNA, this new DNA can integrate into the host's genome, allowing the virus to replicate and produce new viral particles.

This function distinguishes reverse transcriptase from other enzymes. For example, synthesizing RNA from DNA is the role of RNA polymerase, while transcribing DNA into mRNA also involves RNA polymerase. The processing of RNA by splicing is handled by spliceosomes and other RNA-processing enzymes, further underscoring the specific role that reverse transcriptase plays in cellular and viral biology.