N6-methyladenosine modification in lytic viral gene expression during Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infection [MeRIP-seq]

Methylation at the N6 position of adenosine (m6A) is a highly prevalent reversible modification within eukaryotic mRNAs that has been linked to many stages of RNA processing and fate. Recent studies suggest that m6A deposition and proteins involved in the m6A pathway play a diverse set of roles in either restricting or modulating the lifecycles of select viruses. Here, we report that m6A levels are significantly increased in cells infected with the oncogenic human DNA virus Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). Transcriptome-wide m6A-sequencing of the KSHV-positive renal carcinoma cell line iSLK.219 during lytic reactivation revealed the presence of m6A across multiple kinetic classes of viral transcripts, and a concomitant decrease in m6A levels across much of the host transcriptome. iSLK.219 cells that were either uninduced (latent virus), or induced for five days with doxycycline to allow KSHV lytic replication. 2 separate biological replicates for the uninduced and induced samples were used per treatment condition. Plase note that each processed data file derived from the corresponding input and m6A IP conditions is lined to each IP sample records.