MYO1F positions cGAS on the plasma membrane to ensure full and functional signaling

Abstract

Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP)-adenosine monophosphate (AMP) synthase (cGAS) detects viral or endogenous DNA, activating the innate immune response to infections and autoimmune diseases. Upon binding to double-stranded DNA, cGAS synthesizes 2′3′ cGMP-AMP, which triggers type I interferon production. Besides its presence in the cytosol and nucleus, cGAS is found at the plasma membrane, although its significance remains unclear. Here, we report that cGAS associates with myosin 1F (MYO1F) at the plasma membrane of human and mouse macrophages. During viral infection, phosphorylation of MYO1F by spleen-associated tyrosine kinase (SYK) facilitates the recruitment of lysine acetyltransferase 2A (KAT2A), which acetylates cGAS at lysine residues 421, 292, and 131, essential for its activation. Moreover, membrane-localized cGAS is crucial for signaling activation and type I interferon production triggered by virus-cell fusion due to Mn²⁺ release from organelles. Our results highlight the importance of MYO1F-mediated cGAS localization for its full activation in response to viral infection.