该基因编码一种核蛋白，参与同源重组、端粒长度维持和dna双链断裂修复。蛋白质本身具有3'到5'的外切酶活性和内切酶活性。该蛋白与rad50同源物形成复合物；该复合物用于dna末端的非同源连接，并具有增加的单链dna内切酶和3'到5'的外切酶活性。与dna连接酶结合，这种蛋白质在体外利用dna片段末端附近的短同源性促进非完整末端的连接。这个基因在3号染色体上有一个假基因。这个基因的选择性剪接导致两个编码不同亚型的转录变体。[由RefSeq提供，2008年7月]
This gene encodes a nuclear protein involved in homologous recombination, telomere length maintenance, and DNA double-strand break repair. By itself, the protein has 3' to 5' exonuclease activity and endonuclease activity. The protein forms a complex with the RAD50 homolog; this complex is required for nonhomologous joining of DNA ends and possesses increased single-stranded DNA endonuclease and 3' to 5' exonuclease activities. In conjunction with a DNA ligase, this protein promotes the joining of noncomplementary ends in vitro using short homologies near the ends of the DNA fragments. This gene has a pseudogene on chromosome 3. Alternative splicing of this gene results in two transcript variants encoding different isoforms. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]