biostudies-literatureYue JNatural Science Foundation of Inner MongoliaMinisterio de Ciencia e InnovaciónNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaInner Mongolia Agricultural University1555-1564https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9452765biostudies-literatureUnknown23(10)Proteins of the alkylation B (AlkB) superfamily show RNA demethylase activity removing methyl adducts from N⁶ -methyladenosine (m⁶ A). m⁶ A is a reversible epigenetic mark of RNA that regulates human virus replication but has unclear roles in plant virus infection. We focused on Potyvirus-the largest genus of plant RNA viruses-and report here the identification of AlkB domains within P1 of endive necrotic mosaic virus (ENMV) and an additional virus of a putative novel species within Potyvirus. We show that Nicotiana benthamiana m⁶ A levels are reduced by infection of plum pox virus (PPV) and potato virus Y (PVY). The two potyviruses lack AlkB and the results suggest a general involvement of RNA methylation in potyvirus infection and evolution. MeMolecular plant pathologyAlkB RNA demethylase homologues and N⁶ -methyladenosine are involved in Potyvirus infection.PMC9452765NDGCC2016‐23IJC2019‐039970‐IPID2020‐114691RB‐I002021ZD063177016531860489Zhao MPasin FChen YWei XWang HWei YSun ZYue JfalseAlkB RNA demethylase homologues and N⁶ -methyladenosine are involved in Potyvirus infection.Proteins of the alkylation B (AlkB) superfamily show RNA demethylase activity removing methyl adducts from N⁶ -methyladenosine (m⁶ A). m⁶ A is a reversible epigenetic mark of RNA that regulates human virus replication but has unclear roles in plant virus infection. We focused on Potyvirus-the largest genus of plant RNA viruses-and report here the identification of AlkB domains within P1 of endive necrotic mosaic virus (ENMV) and an additional virus of a putative novel species within Potyvirus. We show that Nicotiana benthamiana m⁶ A levels are reduced by infection of plum pox virus (PPV) and potato virus Y (PVY). The two potyviruses lack AlkB and the results suggest a general involvement of RNA methylation in potyvirus infection and evolution. Me2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Oct2026-07-14T15:23:29.85Z2025-04-07T08:28:57.911ZS-EPMC94527653570009210.1111/mpp.13239