Together with ERCC4 (xeroderma pigmentosum group F, XPF), ERCC1 forms a structure-specific endonuclease which plays a rate-limiting role in the nucleotide excision (NER) pathway that recognizes and removes DNA adducts that are formed during cisplatin treatment. This evidence concerns the gene ERCC1 and xeroderma pigmentosum-Cockayne syndrome complex.