Breaking in a new function for casein kinase 2.

ABSTRACT

DNA damage response mechanisms help ensure the fidelity of chromosomal transmission, and the failure of such mechanisms might lead to premature aging and cancer. A new report has established that casein kinase 2 (CK2), a protein that functions in diverse cellular processes, controls the activity of the DNA repair protein XRCC1. These results indicate that CK2 is a key participant in the cellular response to DNA damage.