Abstract
In recent years, the RNA modification N6-methyladenosine (m(6)A) has been found to play a role in the life cycles of numerous viruses and also in the cellular response to viral infection. m(6)A has emerged as a regulator of many fundamental aspects of RNA biology. Here, we highlight recent advances in techniques for the study of m(6)A, as well as advances in our understanding of the cellular machinery that controls the addition, removal, recognition, and functions of m(6)A. We then summarize the many newly discovered roles of m(6)A during viral infection, including how it regulates innate and adaptive immune responses to infection. Overall, the goals of this review are to summarize the roles of m(6)A on both cellular and viral RNAs and to describe future directions for uncovering new functions of m(6)A during infection.