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ATM and ATR: sensing DNA damage

Jun Yang1, Zheng-Ping Xu, Yun Huang

  • 1Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 353 Yanan Road, Hangzhou, 310031, Zhejiang Province, China.

World Journal of Gastroenterology
|January 13, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Cellular responses to DNA damage involve sensing, signal transduction, and gene activation. This review focuses on ATM and ATR kinases as key sensors in genotoxic stress pathways.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Cellular responses to genotoxic stress are complex, involving DNA damage detection, signal transduction, and gene expression.
  • Key cellular functions like DNA repair, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis are regulated during stress responses.
  • Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) cascades are implicated in cellular genotoxic responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current understanding of ATM (ataxia-telangiectasia, mutated) and ATR (ATM and Rad3-related) kinases in DNA damage sensing.
  • To discuss the signaling pathways associated with ATM/ATR activation.
  • To enhance comprehension of cellular genotoxic stress response mechanisms.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of ATM/ATR research.
  • Analysis of signaling pathways involved in genotoxic stress response.
  • Synthesis of findings from multiple disciplines.

Main Results:

  • ATM and ATR kinases are identified as crucial sensors of DNA damage.
  • These kinases initiate signaling cascades that regulate cellular responses.
  • The precise initial activation mechanisms require further elucidation.

Conclusions:

  • ATM/ATR kinases play a central role in the cellular response to genotoxic stress.
  • Understanding ATM/ATR pathways is vital for comprehending DNA damage response.
  • Further research is needed to fully understand the initiation of these signaling cascades.

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