One of the cornerstones of the web of signaling pathways governing cellular life and
differentiation is the DNA damage response. It spans a complex network of pathways,
ranging from DNA repair to modulation of numerous processes in the cell. DNA double-
strand breaks (DSBs), which are formed as a result of genotoxic stress or normal
recombinational processes, are extremely lethal lesions that rapidly mobilize this intricate
defense system. The master controller that pilots cellular responses to DSBs is the ATM …