The genetic blueprint of every cell is contained in nuclear DNA. This blueprint is constantly read to ensure the functioning of the cell and of organs. It is therefore understandable that cells protect its DNA at all costs. A failure to repair damage in DNA leads to cell death or pathologies such as cancer. The overarching goal of this research proposal is to elucidate the responses to DNA damage. In particular, we propose to decipher how cells communicate the presence of DNA lesions. This process is also a paradigm to understand how cells communicate in general.