STING cyclic dinucleotide sensing originated in bacteria.

ABSTRACT: Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is a receptor in human cells that senses foreign cyclic dinucleotides that are released during bacterial infection and in endogenous cyclic GMP-AMP signalling during viral infection and anti-tumour immunity^1-5. STING shares no structural homology with other known signalling proteins^6-9, which has limited attempts at functional analysis and prevented explanation of the origin of cyclic dinucleotide signalling in mammalian innate immunity. Here we reveal functional STING homologues encoded within prokaryotic defence islands, as well as a conserved mechanism of signal activation. Crystal structures of bacterial STING define a minimal homodimeric scaffold that selectively responds to cyclic di-GMP synthesized by a neighbouring cGAS/D

SUBMITTER: Morehouse BR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7572726 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature