A conserved pathway of cell death in response to invading DNA

本项目旨在描述外源DNA识别和细胞快速死亡新途径的分子细节。识别外源DNA是细菌和真核细胞检测感染以及保护自身基因组的关键手段。真核细胞的DNA被隔离在细胞核和细胞器中，在细胞质中发现的任何DNA都是危险的信号。该项目提出细胞质dna诱导的细胞死亡是一种基本的真核生物防御反应，但令人惊讶的是，已知的途径仅限于一些哺乳动物的巨噬细胞。项目成果可应用于生物技术中的蛋白质表达量或基因治疗的进展。

This project aims to characterise molecular details of a new pathway of foreign DNA recognition and rapid cell death. Recognition of foreign DNA is a key means by which both bacteria and eukaryotic cells can detect infections, as well as guard their own genome. Eukaryotic cell DNA is sequestered in the nucleus and organelles, and any DNA found in the cytosol is a danger signal. The project proposes that cytosolic DNA-induced cell death is a fundamental eukaryotic defensive response, but surprisingly, the known pathway is restricted to macrophages of some mammals. Project outcomes may be applied to protein expression yield in biotechnology or advances in gene therapy.