Endocytosis triggers V-ATPase-SYK–mediated priming of cGAS activation and innate immune response

The current view of nucleic acid–mediated innate immunity is that binding of intracellular sensors to nucleic acids is sufficient for their activation. Here, we report that endocytosis of virus or foreign DNA initiates a priming signal for the DNA sensor cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)–mediated innate immune response. Mechanistically, viral infection or foreign DNA transfection triggers recruitment of the spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) and cGAS to the endosomal vacuolar H(+) pump (V-ATPase), where SYK is activated and then phosphorylates human cGAS(Y214/215) (mouse cGas(Y200/201)) to prime its activation. Upon binding to DNA, the primed cGAS initiates robust cGAMP production and mediator of IRF3 activation/stimulator of interferon genes-dependent innate immune response. Consistently, blocking the V-ATPase-SYK axis impairs DNA virus- and transfected DNA-induced cGAMP production and expression of antiviral genes. Our findings reveal that V-ATPase-SYK–mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of cGAS following endocytosis of virus or other cargos serves as a priming signal for cGAS activation and innate immune response.