Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2025

Author Spotlight: Getting an A with the 3Cs: Chromosome Conformation Capture for Undergraduates
Published on: May 12, 2023
The odyssey of cGAS: From cytosol to nucleus
Wenzhuo Hao1, Wenjun Li2, Lingyan Wang1
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
Abstract:
The cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) is a widely recognized pattern recognition receptor responsible for detecting pathogenic DNA in the cytosol and inducing the production of type I interferon (IFN) to combat infections. The recently discovered nuclear localization of cGAS has changed the old dogma, illuminated a captivating dimension of innate immunity, and sparked many fundamental questions beyond the field of immunology. This review explores cGAS nuclear localization models, activation mechanisms, and biological significance. This expansion challenges the conventional understanding of cGAS and opens new avenues for scientific exploration, promising insights into cellular surveillance and potentially unveiling new therapeutic targets for immune disorders.
Related Concept Videos
Golgi Apparatus
The Golgi apparatus is a eukaryotic organelle that has a distinctive ribbon-like appearance. It is a primary sorting and dispatch station for cargo arriving from the ER. Newly arriving vesicles enter the cis face of the Golgi, closest to the ER, and are...
Nuclear Protein Sorting
Proteins targeted to the nucleus carry nuclear localization signals or NLS recognized by import receptors in the cytosol. Similarly, proteins with nuclear export signals are recognized by export receptors. Import and export receptors are...
Regulated mRNA Transport
Transport Across the Golgi
Nuclear Localization Signals and Import
Nuclear Export of mRNA

