Figure: cGAS-STING signaling in the cytosol (Human)¶
The diagram illustrates the cGAS-STING signaling pathway in human cells, a critical innate immune response mechanism that detects cytosolic DNA and triggers type I interferon production.
Key components: 1. cGAS (Q8N884): Cytosolic DNA sensor that binds to double-stranded DNA 2. cGAMP: Second messenger synthesized by cGAS upon DNA binding 3. STING1 (Q86WV6): Endoplasmic reticulum adaptor protein activated by cGAMP 4. TBK1 (Q9UHD2): Serine/threonine kinase that phosphorylates STING1 and drives downstream signaling
Cellular compartments: - Cytosol (GO:0005829): Where cGAS detects DNA and produces cGAMP - ER Membrane (GO:0005789): Where STING1 resides - ER-Golgi Intermediate Compartment (GO:0033116): Transition zone for activated STING1
Signaling cascade: 1. Cytosolic DNA is detected and bound by cGAS (GO:0003690) 2. cGAS forms molecular condensates (GO:0140693) 3. Activated cGAS synthesizes cGAMP (GO:0061501) 4. cGAMP binds to STING1 (GO:0061507) 5. STING1 is activated and functions as a signaling adaptor (GO:0035591) 6. TBK1 is recruited and activated (GO:0004674) 7. TBK1 phosphorylates STING1, creating a positive feedback loop 8. The pathway culminates in type I interferon production (GO:0032481)
This pathway represents a central mechanism of the innate immune response to cytosolic DNA during infection or cellular damage.
Feedback from AI on figure:
{"feedback":"The diagram effectively illustrates the cGAS-STING signaling pathway with a clear and structured presentation of the cascade of events. It clearly differentiates the cellular compartments, with distinct labeling of cytosol and ER, which helps in understanding the spatial aspect of the signaling pathway. Protein interactions and the directional flow of the signaling cascade are effectively shown through arrows, enhancing clarity. The use of color coding for different proteins and events, such as activation and phosphorylation, further aids in distinguishing between different components and actions within the pathway. The inclusion of protein identifiers and GO terms provides additional scientific context, useful for advanced viewers. The improved legend helps readers understand the meaning of different line styles and symbols used in the diagram.","necessary_changes":null,"optional_changes":null}