DNA vs. RNA Virus Biosynthesis

Nucleic Acid

 

Family

 

Biosynthesis

 

DNA, single stranded, linear

Parvoviridae (nonenveloped)

Cellular enzyme transcribes viral DNA in nucleus

DNA, double stranded, linear

Adenoviridae (nonenveloped)

Herpesviridae (enveloped)

 

Poxviridae (enveloped)

Cellular enzyme transcribes viral DNA in nucleus

 

 

Viral enzyme transcribes viral DNA in cytoplasm

DNA, double stranded, circular

Papovaviridae (nonenveloped)

Cellular enzyme transcribes viral DNA in nucleus

DNA, double stranded, circular (with single-stranded region), reverse transcriptase (RNA-dependent DNA polymerase)

Hepadnaviridae (enveloped)

Cellular enzyme transcribes viral DNA in nucleus; reverse transcriptase copies mRNA to make viral DNA

 

RNA, single stranded, + strand

Picornaviridae (nonenveloped)

Togaviridae (enveloped)

Viral RNA functions as a template for synthesis of RNA polymerase which copies - strand RNA to make mRNA in cytoplasm

RNA, single stranded, - strand

Rhabdoviridae (enveloped)

Viral enzyme copies viral RNA to make mRNA in cytoplasm

RNA, double stranded

Reoviridae (double capsid) (nonenveloped)

Viral enzyme copies - strand RNA to make mRNA in cytoplasm

RNA, single stranded, + strand, reverse transcriptase (RNA-dependent DNA polymerase)

Retroviridae (enveloped)

Viral enzyme copies viral RNA to make DNA in cytoplasm; DNA moves to nucleus

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