ADP-ribosyltransferase which, in association with E3 ligase DTX3L, plays a role in DNA damage repair and in immune responses including interferon-mediated antiviral defenses (PubMed:16809771, PubMed:23230272, PubMed:26479788, PubMed:27796300). Within the complex, enhances DTX3L E3 ligase activity which is further enhanced by PARP9 binding to poly(ADP-ribose) (PubMed:28525742). In association with DTX3L and in presence of E1 and E2 enzymes, mediates NAD(+)-dependent mono-ADP-ribosylation of ubiquitin which prevents ubiquitin conjugation to substrates such as histones (PubMed:28525742). During DNA repair, PARP1 recruits PARP9/BAL1-DTX3L complex to DNA damage sites via PARP9 binding to ribosylated PARP1 (PubMed:23230272). Subsequent PARP1-dependent PARP9/BAL1-DTX3L-mediated ubiquitination promotes the rapid and specific recruitment of 53BP1/TP53BP1, UIMC1/RAP80, and BRCA1 to DNA damage sites (PubMed:23230272, PubMed:28525742). In response to DNA damage, PARP9-DTX3L complex is required for efficient non-homologous end joining (NHEJ); the complex function is negatively modulated by PARP9 activity (PubMed:28525742). Dispensable for B-cell receptor (BCR) assembly through V(D)J recombination and class switch recombination (CSR) (By similarity). In macrophages, positively regulates pro-inflammatory cytokines production in response to IFNG stimulation by suppressing PARP14-mediated STAT1 ADP-ribosylation and thus promoting STAT1 phosphorylation (PubMed:27796300). Also suppresses PARP14-mediated STAT6 ADP-ribosylation (PubMed:27796300).