The function of Ensembl gene identifier ENSG00000197774 (EME2, essential meiotic structure-specific endonuclease subunit 2) is as follows. Non-catalytic subunit of the structure-specific, heterodimeric DNA endonuclease MUS81-EME2 which is involved in the maintenance of genome stability. In the complex, EME2 is required for DNA cleavage, participating in DNA recognition and bending (PubMed:17289582, PubMed:24371268, PubMed:24813886, PubMed:35290797). MUS81-EME2 cleaves 3'-flaps and nicked Holliday junctions, and exhibit limited endonuclease activity with 5' flaps and nicked double-stranded DNAs (PubMed:24371268). MUS81-EME2 which is active during the replication of DNA is more specifically involved in replication fork processing (PubMed:17289582, PubMed:24813886). Replication forks frequently encounter obstacles to their passage, including DNA base lesions, DNA interstrand cross-links, difficult-to-replicate sequences, transcription bubbles, or tightly bound proteins. One mechanism for the restart of a stalled replication fork involves nucleolytic cleavage mediated by the MUS81-EME2 endonuclease. By acting upon the stalled fork, MUS81-EME2 generates a DNA double-strand break (DSB) that can be repaired by homologous recombination, leading to the restoration of an active fork (PubMed:24813886). MUS81-EME2 could also function in telomere maintenance (PubMed:24813886). {ECO:0000269|PubMed:17289582, ECO:0000269|PubMed:24371268, ECO:0000269|PubMed:24813886, ECO:0000269|PubMed:35290797}.