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Exploring m6A and m5C Epitranscriptomes upon Viral Infection: an Example with HIV
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m6A RNA methylation, a new hallmark in virus-host interactions
Michèle Brocard1, Alessia Ruggieri2, Nicolas Locker1
1Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
The Journal of General Virology
|September 5, 2017
Summary
Recent advances allow mapping of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modifications, revealing their crucial roles in cellular and viral RNA biology. This review highlights breakthroughs in understanding m6A’s impact on RNA life cycles and viral replication.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Epigenetics
- Virology
Background:
- N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant internal RNA modification.
- Its precise roles in RNA biology were historically unclear.
- Technological advancements now enable high-resolution mapping of m6A modifications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize recent breakthroughs in understanding m6A RNA modifications.
- To explore the implications of m6A for cellular RNA biology.
- To discuss the role of m6A in viral RNA replication cycles.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent scientific literature.
- Analysis of technological advancements in m6A mapping.
- Synthesis of findings on m6A's impact on mRNA and viral RNA.
Main Results:
- m6A modifications influence nearly all aspects of the mRNA life cycle.
- RNA virus genomes are substrates for m6A methylation.
- m6A plays diverse roles in viral replication processes.
Conclusions:
- m6A-based RNA epigenetics is a rapidly evolving field.
- Understanding m6A is critical for both cellular and viral RNA biology.
- Further research into m6A modifications promises new insights and therapeutic targets.
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