Endonuclease III (Nth) protein from E. coli acts as both N-glycosylase and a AP-lyase. The N-glycosylase activity releases damaged pyrimidines from double-stranded DNA, generating a basic (AP site). The AP-lyase activity of the enzyme cleaves 3 to the AP site leaving a 5' phosphate and a 3' ring opened sugar. Some of the damaged bases recognized and removed by Endouclease III include urea, 5, 6 dihydroxythymine, thymine glycol, 5-hydroxy-5 methylhydanton, uracil glycol, 6-hydroxy-5, 6-dihdrothimine and methyltartronylurea.