A non-canonical, interferon-independent signaling activity of cGAMP triggers DNA damage response signaling

Cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate (cGAMP) is normally induced by innate immunity sensing for protection from pathogens. Here the authors show that cGAMP is also upstream of DNA damage signaling by activating ATM-CHK2-mediated repair pathway, while simultaneously suppressing the homology-directed repair.