Agents which inhibit reverse transcriptases

In this brief review, we will begin by outlining a plausible rationale for the development of inhibitors of the DNA polymerases of RNA tumor viruses (reverse transciptases). Then, rather than exhaustively describing all agents which have been shown to inhibit these enzymes, we will present a classification of these inhibitors based on the biochemical properties of the enzymes and the mechanism of action of the inhibitors, offer a critique of existing inhibitors, and suggest directions for future research.