Which enzyme do nucleotide analogs inhibit to treat viral infections?

Nucleotide analogs primarily target polymerases, which are crucial enzymes in the replication process of many viruses. These analogs resemble the natural nucleotides that the polymerase enzymes use to synthesize viral DNA or RNA. By incorporating themselves into the growing nucleic acid chain or blocking the active site of the polymerase enzyme, nucleotide analogs effectively halt viral replication.

This mechanism of action is vital in treating various viral infections, including those caused by HIV, hepatitis B, and herpes viruses, where viral polymerases play a key role in the synthesis of viral genome. The specificity of nucleotide analogs for polymerases exemplifies why they're an effective choice in antiviral therapy.