Question

Which of the following activities is NOT possessed by the human immunodeficiency virus-1 reverse transcriptase?

• A. Synthesis of DNA from RNA
• B. Synthesis of DNA from DNA
• C. Degradation of RNA strand of RNA:DNA hybrid
• D. Synthesis of mRNA from DNA

Hint:

Reverse transcriptase → DNA from RNA; RNA polymerase → mRNA from DNA.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Recall reverse transcriptase functions.
HIV-1 reverse transcriptase is a multifunctional enzyme with three activities:
1. RNA-dependent DNA polymerase (synthesizes DNA from RNA).
2. DNA-dependent DNA polymerase (synthesizes DNA from DNA).
3. RNase H activity (degrades RNA strand of RNA:DNA hybrid).
Step 2: Check missing activity.
It does not possess the activity of synthesizing mRNA from DNA. That function is carried out by RNA polymerase in cells, not reverse transcriptase.
Final Answer: \[ \boxed{\text{Reverse transcriptase does not synthesize mRNA from DNA.}} \]