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General description of the gene and the encoded protein(s) using information from HGNC and Ensembl, as well as predictions made by the Human Protein Atlas project.
Gene namei
Official gene symbol, which is typically a short form of the gene name, according to HGNC.
Assigned HPA protein class(es) for the encoded protein(s).
Enzymes
Predicted locationi
All transcripts of all genes have been analyzed regarding the location(s) of corresponding protein based on prediction methods for signal peptides and transmembrane regions.
Genes with at least one transcript predicted to encode a secreted protein, according to prediction methods or to UniProt location data, have been further annotated and classified with the aim to determine if the corresponding protein(s) are secreted or actually retained in intracellular locations or membrane-attached.
Remaining genes, with no transcript predicted to encode a secreted protein, will be assigned the prediction-based location(s).
The annotated location overrules the predicted location, so that a gene encoding a predicted secreted protein that has been annotated as intracellular will have intracellular as the final location.
Gene information from Ensembl and Entrez, as well as links to available gene identifiers are displayed here. Information was retrieved from Ensembl if not indicated otherwise.
Chromosome
6
Cytoband
q13
Chromosome location (bp)
73413515 - 73452297
Number of transcriptsi
Number of protein-coding transcripts from the gene as defined by Ensembl.
Useful information about the protein provided by UniProt.
Nucleotidyltransferase that catalyzes the formation of cyclic GMP-AMP (2',3'-cGAMP) from ATP and GTP and plays a key role in innate immunity 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18. Catalysis involves both the formation of a 2',5' phosphodiester linkage at the GpA step and the formation of a 3',5' phosphodiester linkage at the ApG step, producing c[G(2',5')pA(3',5')p] 19,20. Acts as a key DNA sensor: directly binds double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), inducing the formation of liquid-like droplets in which CGAS is activated, leading to synthesis of 2',3'-cGAMP, a second messenger that binds to and activates STING1, thereby triggering type-I interferon production 21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30. Preferentially recognizes and binds curved long dsDNAs of a minimal length of 40 bp 31. Acts as a key foreign DNA sensor, the presence of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) in the cytoplasm being a danger signal that triggers the immune responses 32. Has antiviral activity by sensing the presence of dsDNA from DNA viruses in the cytoplasm 33. Also acts as an innate immune sensor of infection by retroviruses, such as HIV-2, by detecting the presence of reverse-transcribed DNA in the cytosol 34,35,36,37. In contrast, HIV-1 is poorly sensed by CGAS, due to its capsid that cloaks viral DNA from CGAS detection 38,39,40. Detection of retroviral reverse-transcribed DNA in the cytosol may be indirect and be mediated via interaction with PQBP1, which directly binds reverse-transcribed retroviral DNA 41. Also detects the presence of DNA from bacteria, such as M.tuberculosis 42. 2',3'- cGAMP can be transferred from producing cells to neighboring cells through gap junctions, leading to promote STING1 activation and convey immune response to connecting cells 43. 2',3'-cGAMP can also be transferred between cells by virtue of packaging within viral particles contributing to IFN-induction in newly infected cells in a cGAS-independent but STING1-dependent manner 44. Also senses the presence of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) that are translocated to the cytosol following phagocytosis, leading to synthesis of 2',3'-cGAMP 45. In addition to foreign DNA, can also be activated by endogenous nuclear or mitochondrial DNA 46,47,48,49,50. When self-DNA leaks into the cytosol during cellular stress (such as mitochondrial stress, SARS-CoV-2 infection causing severe COVID-19 disease, DNA damage, mitotic arrest or senescence), or is present in form of cytosolic micronuclei, CGAS is activated leading to a state of sterile inflammation 51,52,53,54,55,56. Acts as a regulator of cellular senescence by binding to cytosolic chromatin fragments that are present in senescent cells, leading to trigger type-I interferon production via STING1 and promote cellular senescence (By similarity). Also involved in the inflammatory response to genome instability and double-stranded DNA breaks: acts by localizing to micronuclei arising from genome instability 57,58. Micronuclei, which are frequently found in cancer cells, consist of chromatin surrounded by their own nuclear membrane: following breakdown of the micronuclear envelope, a process associated with chromothripsis, CGAS binds self-DNA exposed to the cytosol, leading to 2',3'-cGAMP synthesis and subsequent activation of STING1 and type-I interferon production 59,60. Activated in response to prolonged mitotic arrest, promoting mitotic cell death 61. In a healthy cell, CGAS is however kept inactive even in cellular events that directly expose it to self-DNA, such as mitosis, when cGAS associates with chromatin directly after nuclear envelope breakdown or remains in the form of postmitotic persistent nuclear cGAS pools bound to chromatin 62,63. Nuclear CGAS is inactivated by chromatin via direct interaction with nucleosomes, which block CGAS from DNA binding and thus prevent CGAS-induced autoimmunity 64,65,66,67,68. Also acts as a suppressor of DNA repair in response to DNA damage: inhibits homologous recombination repair by interacting with PARP1, the CGAS-PARP1 interaction leading to impede the formation of the PARP1-TIMELESS complex 69,70. In addition to DNA, also sense translation stress: in response to translation stress, translocates to the cytosol and associates with collided ribosomes, promoting its activation and triggering type-I interferon production 71. In contrast to other mammals, human CGAS displays species-specific mechanisms of DNA recognition and produces less 2',3'-cGAMP, allowing a more fine-tuned response to pathogens 72....show less
Molecular function (UniProt)i
Keywords assigned by UniProt to proteins due to their particular molecular function.
DNA-binding, Nucleotidyltransferase, Transferase
Biological process (UniProt)i
Keywords assigned by UniProt to proteins because they are involved in a particular biological process.
Antiviral defense, DNA damage, DNA repair, Host-virus interaction, Immunity, Innate immunity
Ligand (UniProt)i
Keywords assigned by UniProt to proteins because they bind, are associated with, or whose activity is dependent of some molecule.
Enables several functions, including 2',3'-cyclic GMP-AMP synthase activity; chromatin binding activity; and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate binding activity. Involved in several processes, including cellular response to exogenous dsRNA; positive regulation of intracellular signal transduction; and regulation of defense response. Located in several cellular components, including cytosol; nucleus; and site of double-strand break. [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Apr 2022]...show less
PROTEIN INFORMATIONi
The protein information section displays alternative protein-coding transcripts (splice variants) encoded by this gene according to the Ensembl database.
The Splice variant identifier links to the Ensembl website protein summary for the selected splice variant. The data in the Swissprot and TrEMBL columns links to corresponding pages in the UniProt database.
The protein classes assigned to this protein are shown if expanding the data in the protein class column. Parent protein classes are in bold font and subclasses are listed under the parent class.
The length of the protein (amino acid residues according to Ensembl), molecular mass (kDalton), predicted signal peptide and number of predicted transmembrane region(s) according to in-house majority decision methods based on sets of predictors are also reported.
Enzymes ENZYME proteins Transferases Predicted intracellular proteins Intracellular proteins predicted by MDM and MDSEC Mapped to neXtProt neXtProt - Evidence at protein level Protein evidence (Kim et al 2014) Protein evidence (Ezkurdia et al 2014)
Enzymes ENZYME proteins Transferases Predicted intracellular proteins Intracellular proteins predicted by MDM and MDSEC Mapped to neXtProt neXtProt - Evidence at protein level Protein evidence (Ezkurdia et al 2014)
The Human Protein Atlas project is funded
