SbcCD cleaves DNA hairpin structures. These structures can inhibit DNA replication and are intermediates in certain DNA recombination reactions. The complex acts as a 3'->5' double strand exonuclease that can open hairpins. It also has a 5' single-strand endonuclease activity (By similarity). Heterodimer of SbcC and SbcD. Belongs to the SMC family. SbcC subfamily.