Transmembrane protein 173, also known as stimulator of interferon genes protein (STING), is a transmembrane adaptor protein which is involved in innate immune signalling processes. It induces expression of type I interferons (IFN-alpha and IFN-beta) via the NF-kappa-B and IRF3, pathways in response to non-self cytosolic RNA and dsDNA [1-4].

1: STING is an endoplasmic reticulum adaptor that facilitates innate immune signalling. Ishikawa H, Barber GN; Nature. 2008;455:674-678. PMID:18724357

2: STING regulates intracellular DNA-mediated, type I interferon-dependent innate immunity. Ishikawa H, Ma Z, Barber GN; Nature. 2009;461:788-792. PMID:19776740

3: The adaptor protein MITA links virus-sensing receptors to IRF3 transcription factor activation. Zhong B, Yang Y, Li S, Wang YY, Li Y, Diao F, Lei C, He X, Zhang L, Tien P, Shu HB; Immunity. 2008;29:538-550. PMID:18818105

4: ERIS, an endoplasmic reticulum IFN stimulator, activates innate immune signaling through dimerization. Sun W, Li Y, Chen L, Chen H, You F, Zhou X, Zhou Y, Zhai Z, Chen D, Jiang Z; Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009;106:8653-8658. PMID:19433799