The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic underscores the importance of understanding the evolution of RNA genomes. While RNA is subject to the formation of similar lesions as DNA, the evolutionary and physiological impacts RNA lesions have on viral genomes are yet to be characterized. Lesions that may drive the evolution of RNA genomes can induce breaks that are repaired by recombination or can cause base substitution mutagenesis, also known as base editing. Over the past decade or so, base editing mutagenesis of DNA genomes has been subject to many studies, revealing that exposure of ssDNA is subject to hypermutation that is involved in the etiology of cancer. However, base editing of RNA genomes has not been studied to the same extent. Recently hypermutation of single-stranded RNA viral genomes have also been documented though its role in evolution and population dynamics. Here, we will summarize the current knowledge of key mechanisms and causes of RNA genome instability covering areas from the RNA world theory to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic of today. We will also highlight the key questions that remain as it pertains to RNA genome instability, mutations accumulation, and experimental strategies for addressing these questions.
【저자키워드】 viral evolution, APOBEC, ADAR, Viral RNA, RNA editing, Messenger RNA, hypermutation, RNA world theory, genome stability, 【초록키워드】 Evolution, pandemic, Mutation, knowledge, SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, Cancer, Genome, RNA, DNA, Impact, Recombination, etiology, mechanism, Mutagenesis, viral genome, physiological, lesion, subject, RNA genome, while, ssDNA, over, highlight, single-stranded, RNA genomes, involved, characterized, question, induce, cause, base substitution, the SARS-CoV-2, 【제목키워드】 RNA,