烷基化劑是一種有效的致癌物，可導致細胞死亡、突變和癌癥。該基因編碼的蛋白質是一種DNA修復蛋白，參與細胞抵御烷基化劑的誘變和毒性。這種蛋白催化甲基從O（6）-烷基鳥嘌呤和DNA的其他甲基化部分轉移到它自己的分子，從而修復毒性損傷。基因啟動子甲基化與多種癌癥類型有關，包括結直腸癌、肺癌、淋巴瘤和膠質母細胞瘤。
Alkylating agents are potent carcinogens that can result in cell death, mutation and cancer. The protein encoded by this gene is a DNA repair protein that is involved in cellular defense against mutagenesis and toxicity from alkylating agents. The protein catalyzes transfer of methyl groups from O(6)-alkylguanine and other methylated moieties of the DNA to its own molecule, which repairs the toxic lesions. Methylation of the genes promoter has been associated with several cancer types, including colorectal cancer, lung cancer, lymphoma and glioblastoma.