Serine/threonine-protein kinase which is required for checkpoint-mediated cell cycle arrest and activation of DNA repair in response to the presence of DNA damage or unreplicated DNA. May also negatively regulate cell cycle progression during unperturbed cell cycles. Required for checkpoint mediated cell cycle arrest in response to DNA damage in germline cells. Essential for embryogenesis (By similarity). ATP + L-seryl-[protein] = ADP + H(+) + O-phospho-L-seryl-[protein] ATP + L-threonyl-[protein] = ADP + H(+) + O-phospho-L-threonyl-[protein] Belongs to the protein kinase superfamily. CAMK Ser/Thr protein kinase family. NIM1 subfamily.