Pathways

Question 1

What is the cGAS/STING pathway?

Answer 1

• innate immune system signaling pathway
• detects cytotoxic DNA (from tumorogenesis, viral infection or invasion from some intracellular bacteria)
• cGAS binds DNA -> triggers GTP+ATP -> cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) -> cGAMP then binds STING -> phosphorylation of IRF3 via TBK1
• remember: IRF3 is transcription factor and phosphorylation means transcription of inflammatory genes