Effects of pyroptosis on nucleic acid metabolism and immune sensing (A06)

• Subject Area: Immunology
• Term: since 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 369799452

DNases control DNA availability and structure and thus also DNA sensing. We will examine how hitherto poorly characterized DNases, including TREX2, ADA2, L-Dnase-II and the PLD and DNASE1L families, control DNA sensing during immune activation, genotoxic stress and cell death, with a focus on pyroptosis. We will determine the cellular and subcellular expression of these DNases, characterize the effect of their genetic deletion, identify their substrates, and assess the effect of DNA modifications on their activity. With CRC support, we will investigate DNase accessibility to during immune stimulation and cell death and how this is potentially affected by micronuclei release and phase separation.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 237: Nucleic Acid Immunity
• Applicant Institution: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• Project Heads: Professorin Dr. Eva Bartok; Dr. Christine Wolf