該基因編碼一種參與同源重組、端粒長度維持和DNA雙鏈斷裂修復的核蛋白。該蛋白本身具有3’到5’的核酸外切酶活性和核酸內切酶活性。該蛋白與RAD50同系物形成復合物；該復合物是DNA末端非同源連接所必需的，具有增加的單鏈DNA內切酶和3’到5’的外切酶活性。該蛋白與DNA連接酶結合，在體外利用靠近DNA片段末端的短同源性促進非完全末端的連接。這個基因在3號染色體上有一個假基因。該基因的選擇性剪接導致編碼不同亞型的兩個轉錄變體。
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.