烷基化剂是一种有效的致癌物，可导致细胞死亡、突变和癌症。该基因编码的蛋白质是一种DNA修复蛋白，参与细胞抵御烷基化剂的诱变和毒性。这种蛋白催化甲基从O（6）-烷基鸟嘌呤和DNA的其他甲基化部分转移到它自己的分子，从而修复毒性损伤。基因启动子甲基化与多种癌症类型有关，包括结直肠癌、肺癌、淋巴瘤和胶质母细胞瘤。
Alkylating agents are potent carcinogens that can result in cell death, mutation and cancer. The protein encoded by this gene is a DNA repair protein that is involved in cellular defense against mutagenesis and toxicity from alkylating agents. The protein catalyzes transfer of methyl groups from O(6)-alkylguanine and other methylated moieties of the DNA to its own molecule, which repairs the toxic lesions. Methylation of the genes promoter has been associated with several cancer types, including colorectal cancer, lung cancer, lymphoma and glioblastoma.