biostudies-literatureMurata TTakeda Science FoundationJapan Agency for Medical Research and Development2265https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9917364biostudies-literatureUnknown24(3)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 <i>HBx</i>. 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.International journal of molecular sciencesN6-methyladenosine Modification of Hepatitis B Virus RNA in the Coding Region of <i>HBx</i>.PMC9917364naJP20fk0310104, 22fk0310507Murata TIwahori SKimura HNishitsuji HShimotohno KOkuno YYanagi YWatashi KWakita TfalseN6-methyladenosine Modification of Hepatitis B Virus RNA in the Coding Region of <i>HBx</i>.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 <i>HBx</i>. 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.2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Jan2025-04-19T17:18:48.613Z2025-02-19T03:25:54.2ZS-EPMC99173643676858510.3390/ijms24032265