Nuclease involved in DNA non-homologous end joining (NHEJ); required for double-strand break repair and V(D)J recombination (PubMed:11336668, PubMed:11955432, PubMed:12055248, PubMed:14744996, PubMed:15071507, PubMed:15574326, PubMed:15936993). Required for V(D)J recombination, the process by which exons encoding the antigen-binding domains of immunoglobulins and T-cell receptor proteins are assembled from individual V, (D), and J gene segments (PubMed:11336668, PubMed:11955432, PubMed:14744996). V(D)J recombination is initiated by the lymphoid specific RAG endonuclease complex, which generates site specific DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) (PubMed:11336668, PubMed:11955432, PubMed:14744996). These DSBs present two types of DNA end structures: hairpin sealed coding ends and phosphorylated blunt signal ends (PubMed:11336668, PubMed:11955432, PubMed:14744996). These ends are independently repaired by the non homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway to form coding and signal joints respectively (PubMed:11336668, PubMed:11955432, PubMed:14744996). This protein exhibits single-strand specific 5′-3′ exonuclease activity in isolation and acquires endonucleolytic activity on 5′ and 3′ hairpins and overhangs when in a complex with PRKDC (PubMed:11955432, PubMed:15071507, PubMed:15574326, PubMed:15936993). The latter activity is required specifically for the resolution of closed hairpins prior to the formation of the coding joint (PubMed:11955432). Also required for the repair of complex DSBs induced by ionizing radiation, which require substantial end-processing prior to religation by NHEJ (PubMed:15456891, PubMed:15468306, PubMed:15574327, PubMed:15811628).
