David A. Walsh ‘67 Arts & Sciences Seminar Series: Modi Wang

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Clarkson University Spring 2024 David A. Walsh‘67 Arts & Sciences Seminar Series Friday, February 9 at 12pm Room: Snell 212 Cyclic Dinucleotide Signaling in Mammalian Cells Since the discovery of c-di-GMP in 1987, cyclic dinucleotides have emerged as widely used signaling molecules in bacteria. The family of cyclic dinucleotides includes c-di-AMP and cyclic GMP-AMP (3’,3’-cGAMP). The microbial organisms expressed cyclic dinucleotides can be recognized by STimulator of INterferon genes (STING) of the innate immune system and trigger the inflammatory response. In 2013, researchers discovered human cGAS which could bind to cytosolic DNA and selectively catalyze the synthesis of cyclic dinucleotides − 2’3’-cGAMP. This cGAS-STING pathway, has been recently recognized as an important pathway for innate immune response. Targeting proteins along this pathway, with either activators or inhibitors, may potentially be a promising new strategy for the diseases in which immunomodulation of the type I IFN pathway might show therapeutic benefit. In this presentation, I will discuss my recent projects, which focus on developing cGAS inhibitors, and discovering cyclic dinucleotides mediated pathways. Modi Wang, Assistant Professor of Chemistry & Biomolecular Science Modi Wang received her B.S. degree in Chemistry at Hong Kong Baptist University in 2013. She then pursued her graduate studies at Hong Kong Baptist University. After receiving her PhD degree in November 2016, Modi joined Prof. Herman O Sintim’s research lab at Purdue University for postdoctoral research. She joined Clarkson University as a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biomolecular Science in 2021. In 2023, she started her independent research as an Assistant Professor at Clarkson University. The Arts & Sciences Seminar Series is a weekly colloquium series that has been supported by the School of Arts & Sciences Advisory Council at Clarkson University especially through generous gifts from David A. Walsh ‘67. SA&S 300: Arts and Sciences Seminar is a one credit course intended to foster an interdisciplinary outlook in undergraduates majoring in the School of Arts and Sciences.

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