In this study, resveratrol did not efficiently induce p53 phosphorylation in Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) cells that lack wild-type MRN complex even though ATM autophosphorylation was stimulated, suggesting that resveratrol is upstream of the MRN complex and the MRN complex is required for efficient signal transduction to ATM downstream. This evidence concerns the gene ATM and Nijmegen breakage syndrome.