The protein encoded by this gene contains an N-terminal forkhead domain, two BRCA1 C-terminal (BRCT) motifs and a central domain with 13 repetitions of an approximately 41-amino acid sequence. The encoded protein is required to activate the intra-S phase and G2/M phase cell cycle checkpoints in response to DNA damage. This nuclear protein interacts with phosphorylated histone H2AX near sites of DNA double-strand breaks through its BRCT motifs, and facilitates recruitment of the ATM kinase and meiotic recombination 11 protein complex to DNA damage foci.