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cGAS‐cGAMP‐STING: The three musketeers of cytosolic DNA sensing and signaling
Author(s) -
Tao Jianli,
Zhou Xiang,
Jiang Zhengfan
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
iubmb life
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.132
H-Index - 113
eISSN - 1521-6551
pISSN - 1521-6543
DOI - 10.1002/iub.1566
Subject(s) - innate immune system , sting , stimulator of interferon genes , biology , signal transduction , microbiology and biotechnology , dna , cytosol , second messenger system , immunity , pathogen , nucleic acid , first line , pathogen associated molecular pattern , immune system , pattern recognition receptor , genetics , biochemistry , enzyme , medicine , engineering , aerospace engineering
Innate immunity is the first line of host defense against invading pathogens. The detection of aberrant nucleic acids which represent some conserved PAMPs triggers robust type I IFN‐mediated innate immune responses. Host‐ or pathogen‐derived cytosolic DNA binds and activates the DNA sensor cGAS, which synthesizes the second messenger 2′3′‐cGAMP and triggers STING‐dependent downstream signaling. Here, we highlight recent progress in cGAS‐cGAMP‐STING, the Three Musketeers of cytosolic DNA sensing and signaling, and their essential roles in infection, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. We also focus on the regulation of these critical signal components by variant host/pathogen proteins and update our understanding of this indispensable pathway to provide new insights for drug discovery. © 2016 IUBMB Life, 68(11):858–870, 2016