Breaking in a new function for casein kinase 2

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.