Joining the cell survival squad: an emerging role for protein kinase CK2

Protein kinase CK2 (formerly known as casein kinase 2) is a serine/threonine protein kinase whose functions have been under investigation for over three decades, leading to the recognition that it interacts with several signaling pathways. Recent demonstrations of signal-mediated dynamic localization of CK2 and the identification of new signaling targets for it have converged to indicate an unexpected function for this protein kinase: cell survival. Here, we summarize our emerging knowledge about how CK2 might participate in the transduction of survival signals.