Damage, Signal, Maneuver: Cellular processes, such as transcription and DNA repair, require modification and manipulation of chromosomally associated proteins by a diverse set of chromatin remodeling complexes. The mechanisms by which cells regulate chromatin remodeling are not completely understood. During the response elicited by DNA damage, the addition of poly(ADP-ribose) to chromatin is associated with chromatin decondensation, which is thought to promote efficient DNA repair. Ahel et al. (p. 1240 , published online 30 July 2009) have identified a chromatin remodeling enzyme as a DNA damage-response protein, which binds poly(ADP-ribose).