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Science 339 (6121): 826-830

Copyright © 2013 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Cyclic GMP-AMP Is an Endogenous Second Messenger in Innate Immune Signaling by Cytosolic DNA

Jiaxi Wu,1,* Lijun Sun,1,2,* Xiang Chen,1 Fenghe Du,1 Heping Shi,3 Chuo Chen,3 Zhijian J. Chen1,2,{dagger}

Abstract: Cytosolic DNA induces type I interferons and other cytokines that are important for antimicrobial defense but can also result in autoimmunity. This DNA signaling pathway requires the adaptor protein STING and the transcription factor IRF3, but the mechanism of DNA sensing is unclear. We found that mammalian cytosolic extracts synthesized cyclic guanosine monophosphate–adenosine monophosphate (cyclic GMP-AMP, or cGAMP) in vitro from adenosine triphosphate and guanosine triphosphate in the presence of DNA but not RNA. DNA transfection or DNA virus infection of mammalian cells also triggered cGAMP production. cGAMP bound to STING, leading to the activation of IRF3 and induction of interferon-β. Thus, cGAMP functions as an endogenous second messenger in metazoans and triggers interferon production in response to cytosolic DNA.

1 Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
2 Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
3 Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.

* These authors contributed equally to this work.

{dagger} To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: zhijian.chen{at}utsouthwestern.edu

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
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Sensing the Dark Side of DNA.
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Science 339, 763-764
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Cyclic GMP-AMP Synthase Is a Cytosolic DNA Sensor That Activates the Type I Interferon Pathway.
L. Sun, J. Wu, F. Du, X. Chen, and Z. J. Chen (2013)
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