N6-Methyladenosine and Viral Infection

• Published in: Frontiers in microbiology Vol. 10; p. 417
• Main Authors: Dang, Wei, Xie, Yan, Cao, Pengfei, Xin, Shuyu, Wang, Jia, Li, Shen, Li, Yanling, Lu, Jianhong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A 05.03.2019
• Subjects: immune; infection; m6A; Microbiology; viral life cycle; virus
• ISSN: 1664-302X; 1664-302X
• DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00417

N 6 -methyladenosine (m 6 A), as a dynamic posttranscriptional RNA modification, recently gave rise to the field of viral epitranscriptomics. The interaction between virus and host is affected by m 6 A. Multiple m 6 A-modified viral RNAs have been observed. The epitranscriptome of m 6 A in host cells are altered after viral infection. The expression of viral genes, the replication of virus and the generation of progeny virions are influenced by m 6 A modifications in viral RNAs during virus infection. Meanwhile, the decorations of m 6 A in host mRNAs can make viral infections more likely to happen or can enhance the resistance of host to virus infection. However, the mechanism of m 6 A regulation in viral infection and host immune response has not been thoroughly elucidated to date. With the development of sequencing-based biotechnologies, transcriptome-wide mapping of m 6 A in viruses has been achieved, laying the foundation for expanding its functions and corresponding mechanisms. In this report, we summarize the positive and negative effects of m 6 A in distinct viral infection. Given the increasingly important roles of m 6 A in diverse viruses, m 6 A represents a novel potential target for antiviral therapy.