tRNAs at the Virus-Host Interface.

Abstract

The discovery of tRNA as an adapter molecule established the foundation for understanding its essential roles in gene expression, stress responses, cellular homeostasis, and disease, including viral infections. Human tRNAs carry multiple chemical modifications that maintain their structure and ensure proper function. Since viruses depend entirely on host translation machinery, many of them can manipulate tRNA functioning at the structural level or the functional level. This review highlights how diverse viruses exploit tRNA epitranscriptomics, supported by recent advances in tRNA sequencing and profiling. Understanding the mechanisms by which viruses exploit the host tRNA landscape and the related molecules can identify novel antiviral targets, offering opportunities to interfere with viral protein synthesis and replication.