Article abstract


Nature Cell Biology 6, 968 - 976 (2004)
Published online: 19 September 2004 | doi:10.1038/ncb1170

A new effector pathway links ATM kinase with the DNA damage response

Constantinos Demonacos1,2, Marija Krstic-Demonacos1,2, Linda Smith1, Danmei Xu1, Darran P. O'Connor1, Martin Jansson1 & Nicholas B. La Thangue1


The related kinases ATM (ataxia-telangiectasia mutated) and ATR (ataxia-telangiectasia and Rad3-related) phosphorylate a limited number of downstream protein targets in response to DNA damage. Here we report a new pathway in which ATM kinase signals the DNA damage response by targeting the transcriptional cofactor Strap. ATM phosphorylates Strap at a serine residue, stabilizing nuclear Strap and facilitating formation of a stress-responsive co-activator complex. Strap activity enhances p53 acetylation, and augments the response to DNA damage. Strap remains localized in the cytoplasm in cells derived from ataxia telangiectasia individuals with defective ATM, as well as in cells expressing a Strap mutant that cannot be phosphorylated by ATM. Targeting Strap to the nucleus reinstates protein stabilization and activates the DNA damage response. These results indicate that the nuclear accumulation of Strap is a critical regulator in the damage response, and argue that this function can be assigned to ATM through the DNA damage-dependent phosphorylation of Strap.

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  1. Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Davidson Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
  2. Current address: School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (C.D.), School of Biological Sciences (M.K-D.), University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.

Correspondence to: Nicholas B. La Thangue1 e-mail: n.lathangue@bio.gla.ac.uk



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