Sensing of dangerous DNA.
The presence of damaged and microbial DNA can pose a threat to the survival of organisms. Cells express various sensors that recognize specific aspects of such potentially dangerous DNA. Recognition of damaged or microbial DNA by sensors induces cellular processes that are important for DNA repair and inflammation. Here, we review recent evidence that the cellular response to DNA damage and microbial DNA are tightly intertwined. We also discuss insights into the parameters that enable DNA sensors to distinguish damaged and microbial DNA from DNA present in healthy cells.
Immunology Programme, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore 117456, Singapore; NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117597 Singapore. Electronic address: stgasser1@yahoo.com.
Stephan
S
Gasser
Immunology Programme, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore 117456, Singapore.
Wendy Y L
WYL
Zhang
Immunology Programme, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore 117456, Singapore.
Nikki Yi Jie
NYJ
Tan
Immunology Programme, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore 117456, Singapore.
Shubhita
S
Tripathi
Immunology Programme, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore 117456, Singapore.
Manuel A
MA
Suter
Immunology Programme, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore 117456, Singapore; NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117597 Singapore.
Zhi Huan
ZH
Chew
Immunology Programme, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore 117456, Singapore.
Muznah
M
Khatoo
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117597 Singapore; Divsion of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Drive, 169610, Singapore; Oncology Academic Clinical Program, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857, Singapore.
Joanne
J
Ngeow
Immunology Programme, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore 117456, Singapore. Electronic address: micfsgc@nus.edu.sg.
Florence S G
FSG
Cheung
D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
D004269:DNA, Bacterial
Cancer; Cytosolic DNA; DNA repair; DNA sensor; Innate immunity