The present invention is directed to compositions and methods regarding
the signaling for the presence of DNA damage or replication stress and
activating cell cycle checkpoints. Specifically, ATRIP was identified as
an interactor with ATR, a member of the phosphatidylinositol
kinase-related protein family that includes ATM and DNA-PK. In some
embodiments, the present invention is directed to ATRIP and ATR acting as
mutually dependent partners in cell cycle checkpoint signaling pathways.