ABSTRACT
Ataxia telangiectasia (AT) is a disease with pleiotropic defects that include hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation, immunodeficiency and increased cancer risk and Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM) gene is responsible for AT. Particularly since AT patients are strongly ra diosensitive, the relationship between ATM and DNA damage has been studied thoroughly. ATM recognizes the DNA double-strand breaks produced by DNA damaging agents such as ionizing radiation and subsequendy controls cell fate by DNA repair, cell cycle regulation and apoptosis. Cell signaling cascades involving ATM are diverse and in terms of radiation-induced apoptosis, numer ous participants and their roles have been uncovered in recent years. Here, ATM-related signaling cascades are reviewed, focusing on radiation-induced apoptosis. Relationships with other signaling cascades, such as oxidative stress-related and insulin-related signaling are also discussed.
