Theataxiatelangiectasia-mutatedgene(ATM)encodesaproteinkinasethatactsasatumorsuppressor.ATMactivationbyionizingrADIationdamagetoDNAstimulatesDNArepairandblocksprogressionthroughthecellcycle.MutationoftheATMgenecausesthediseaseataxiatelangiectasiawhichwhichinvolvesaninheritedpredispositiontosomecancers.ToplaythisroleATMinteractswithabroadnetworkofproteins,includingcheckpointfactors(chk1,chk2),tumorsuppressors(p53andBRCA),DNArepairfactors(RAD50,RAD51,GADD45),andothersignalingmolecules(c-AblandNF-kB).InadditiontoregulatingDNArepairandthecellcycle,ATMcanalsotriggerapoptosisinradiationtreatedcells. Contributor:GlennCroston,PhD. REFERENCES: