When the DNA of a cell is damaged, cell cycle progression is arrested and cell cycle-specific transcription is inhibited. However, cell cycle-specific transcription is required for eventual recovery from the DNA damage-induced arrest. Here we discuss recent findings that demonstrate how transcription is fine-tuned during the DNA damage response and how this controls the capacity to recover from a DNA damage arrest in G(2) phase.
Keywords: DNA damage; FoxM1; G2/M; Wip1; checkpoint recovery; mitotic entry; recovery competence.