DNA DSB repair signaling pathways through the apical DDR kinases. DNA DSB repair signaling pathways through the apical DDR kinases. A, DNA-PK: Ku binds to DNA DSBs and recruits DNA-PKcs. Upon DNA binding, autophosphorylation of DNA-PKcs induces a conformational change that destabilizes the NHEJ core complex, causing sliding of Ku inward on the DNA and enabling access of end-processing and ligation enzymes to DNA ends and facilitation of repair. B, ATM: following DSBs ATM is predominantly activated through interactions with NBS1 of the MRN complex. ATM is the principal kinase responsible for phosphorylation of histone H2AX on serine 139 (known as γH2AX). MDC1 (mediator of DNA-damage checkpoint protein 1) directly binds γH2AX and potentiates DNA-damage signaling leading to spreading of γH2AX to over a megabase from its initial lesion. This in turn promotes recruitment and retention of DNA-damage mediator proteins such as 53BP1. CHK2 is a well-studied ATM substrate. C, ATR: ATR is activated by replication protein A (RPA) bound to ssDNA. The ATR–CHK1 signaling cascade activates the G2–M checkpoint, promotes replication fork stabilization, and slows DNA replication by suppressing origin firing. Jessica S. Brown et al. Cancer Discov 2017;7:20-37 ©2017 by American Association for Cancer Research