N6-methyladenosine Modification of Hepatitis B Virus RNA in the Coding Region of HBx.

ABSTRACT: N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is a post-transcriptional modification of RNA involved in transcript transport, degradation, translation, and splicing. We found that HBV RNA is modified by m⁶A predominantly in the coding region of HBx. The mutagenesis of methylation sites reduced the HBV mRNA and HBs protein levels. The suppression of m⁶A by an inhibitor or knockdown in primary hepatocytes decreased the viral RNA and HBs protein levels in the medium. These results suggest that the m⁶A modification of HBV RNA is needed for the efficient replication of HBV in hepatocytes.

SUBMITTER: Murata T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9917364 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature