The Cullati lab wants to understand the biochemical logic of cellular signaling. Specifically, we study how a protein kinase called CK1 phosphorylates its substrates to promote DNA repair and accurate cell division – two processes that are vital for cell survival and which are often misregulated during cancer. We clone, purify, and mutate proteins to measure CK1 phosphorylation in vitro. We also use genetics and microscopy in fission yeast to investigate how CK1 regulates DNA repair and cell division in vivo. By combining these methods and collaborating with mass spectrometrists and structural biologists, we can learn about both the chemical mechanisms and biological significance of CK1 signaling.