N6-Methylation of adenosine (m6A) in viral RNA was first identified in Rous sarcoma virus, influenza virus, and SV40 virus several decades ago. More recently, human immunodeficiency virus-1, hepatitis C virus, and Zika virus (ZIKV) RNAs have also been reported to be modified by m6A, highlighting the significance of this posttranscriptional RNA modification. Nevertheless, the functions of m6A and their roles in the context of viral infections are not completely understood. Similarly, the mechanisms by which viral infections may alter the dynamics of the host RNA methylome have yet to be elucidated. Here, we describe an experimental protocol to obtain m6A profiles of ZIKV RNA and the host cell mRNA using methylated RNA immunoprecipitation-sequencing (MeRIP-Seq).
Keywords: Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation–sequencing; N6-Methylation of adenosine; RNA methylome; ZIKV RNA.