Protein kinases and the response to DNA damage.

Exposure of eukaryotic cells to DNA damaging agents induces gene expression and inhibits cell cycle progression. The first response to damage that has been measured is an increase in protein kinase activity. Several protein kinases are activated in cells exposed to DNA damaging agents, and other kinases that correct damage hypersensitivity mutants have been identified genetically. Current challenges include determining which responses result from damage to DNA and identifying the immediate detectors of damaged DNA that initiate signal transduction.