Question

how does a nucleotide inhibitor of RT work? name an antiviral that is in this category? how does a non nucleotide inhibitor of RT work? name an antiviral that is in this category.

Answer 1

Nucleotide inhibitors of the reverse transcriptase (NRTI) and non nucleotide RT inhibitors (NNRTI) both are antiretroviral treatment choices.

The NRTI work by mimicking nucleotides of the viral DNA. They get incorporated by the reverse transcriptase like any other nucleotide during elongation but addition of this inhibitor blocks the RT from adding nucleotides any further. This thus inhibits the formation of the viral DNA. An antiviral example for this category is  Tenofovir.

The NNRTIs work by binding to reverse transcriptase on an other site than the nucleotide binding site, this brings about an allosteric change in the enzyme and makes it impossible to bind with the nucleotides any longer. Thus halting the viral replication process where the viral DNA is no longer made.  An antiviral example for this category is nevirapine.