Restriction of exogenous DNA expression by SAMHD1

SAMHD1 (Sterile Alpha Motif and Histidine-aspartate Domain containing protein 1) has been documented as a host factor that restricts HIV-1 and some DNA viruses. In this work, we attempted to explore possible effects of SAMHD1 on exogenous DNA and show that SAMHD1 exerts a general inhibition on the expression of exogenous DNA in vitro and in mice. This inhibition is achieved through repressing transcription of exogenous DNA. Intriguingly, unlike...