Targeting G9a Regulated m6A Modification Pathway to Hinder SARS-CoV-2 Replication

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification pathway is hijacked by several RNA viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, making it an attractive host-directed target for development of broad-spectrum antivirals. Here, we show that histone methyltransferase G9a, through its interaction with METTL3, regulates SARS-CoV-2 mediated rewiring of host m6A methylome to ultimately promote turnover, abundance, secretion and/or phosphorylation of various viral receptors and proteases, transcription factors, cytokines/chemokines, coagulation & angiogenesis associated proteins, and fibrosis markers. More importantly, drugs targeting G9a and its associated protein EZH2 are potent inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 replication and reverse multi-omic effects of coronavirus infection in human alveolar epithelial cells (A549-hACE2) and COVID-19 patient PBMCs - with similar changes seen in multiorgan autopsy samples from COVID-19 patients. Altogether, we extend G9a function(s) beyond transcription to translational regulation during COVID-19 pathogenesis and show that targeting this master regulatory complex represents a new strategy (drug-class) that can be leveraged to combat emerging anti-viral resistance and infections. MeRIP-Seq/m6A-seq was performed using A549-hACE2 cells (mock or SARS-CoV-2 infected) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from patient with COVID-19 under different treatment conditions (G9a inhibitor UNC0642, none) to identify transcripts showing differential m6A modification.