Fig. 1
From: The cGAS–STING pathway: more than fighting against viruses and cancer
Activation of the cGAS–STING pathway in cells. cGAS is stimulated by foreign double-stranded DNA, mtDNA in the cytoplasm, and phagocytosed DNA. Occupation of the substrates ATP and GTP catalyzes the formation of cGAMP via the induction of cGAS, which subsequently binds to STING located on the ER membrane. The incorporation of cGAMP into STING facilitates the trafficking of STING to the Golgi apparatus. Over the course of translocation, STING recruits and activates TBK1, which subsequently catalyzes the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of IRF3 and, to a lesser extent, of NF-κB, resulting in the increased synthesis of IFN, along with other inflammatory molecules