Involved in translation as a component of the 40S small ribosomal subunit. Has endonuclease activity and plays a role in repair of damaged DNA. Cleaves phosphodiester bonds of DNAs containing altered bases with broad specificity and cleaves supercoiled DNA more efficiently than relaxed DNA. Displays high binding affinity for 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG), a common DNA lesion caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Has also been shown to bind with similar affinity to intact and damaged DNA.
