The enigmatic epitranscriptome of bacteriophages: putative RNA modifications in viral infections

• Published in: Current opinion in microbiology Vol. 77; p. 102417
• Main Authors: Pozhydaieva, Nadiia, Wolfram-Schauerte, Maik, Keuthen, Helene, Höfer, Katharina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-02-2024
• Subjects: Bacteriophages - genetics; Humans; RNA - genetics; RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; RNA, Bacterial - genetics; Virus Diseases
• ISSN: 1369-5274; 1879-0364
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102417

RNA modifications play essential roles in modulating RNA function, stability, and fate across all kingdoms of life. The entirety of the RNA modifications within a cell is defined as the epitranscriptome. While eukaryotic RNA modifications are intensively studied, understanding bacterial RNA modifications remains limited, and knowledge about bacteriophage RNA modifications is almost nonexistent. In this review, we shed light on known mechanisms of bacterial RNA modifications and propose how this knowledge might be extended to bacteriophages. We build hypotheses on enzymes potentially responsible for regulating the epitranscriptome of bacteriophages and their host. This review highlights the exciting prospects of uncovering the unexplored field of bacteriophage epitranscriptomics and its potential role to shape bacteriophage–host interactions.
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•RNA can be modified by diverse internal and terminal modifications.•Bacteria and bacteriophage RNA polymerases can install RNA modifications.•Bacterial enzymes remove RNA modifications impacting RNA stability and function.•A bacteriophage enzyme recognises a specific RNA modification to modulate infection.•We speculate how RNA modifications could shape bacteriophage-host interactions.