Involved in DNA excision repair. Initiates repair by binding to damaged sites with various affinities, depending on the photoproduct and the transcriptional state of the region. Required for UV-induced CHEK1 phosphorylation and the recruitment of CEP164 to cyclobutane pyrimidine dimmers (CPD), sites of DNA damage after UV irradiation. Interacts with GPN1. Interacts with RPA1 and RPA2; the interaction is direct and associates XPA with the RPA complex. Interacts (via N-terminus) with CEP164 upon UV irradiation. Interacts with HERC2. Expressed in various cell lines and in skin fibroblasts. ATR-dependent phosphorylation of XPA at Ser-196 is important for cell survival in response to UV damage. Ubiquitinated by HERC2 leading to degradation by the proteasome. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. Belongs to the XPA family. Nature's flaws - Issue 142 of September 2012