Error-prone DNA polymerase specifically involved in DNA repair (PubMed:11297519). Plays an important role in translesion synthesis, where the normal high-fidelity DNA polymerases cannot proceed and DNA synthesis stalls (PubMed:11297519). Favors Hoogsteen base-pairing in the active site (By similarity). Inserts the correct base with higher fidelity opposite an adenosine template (PubMed:11297519). Exhibits low fidelity and efficiency opposite a thymidine template, where it will preferentially insert guanosine (PubMed:11297519). Forms a Schiff base with 5'-deoxyribose phosphate at abasic sites, but may not have lyase activity (By similarity). a 2'-deoxyribonucleoside 5'-triphosphate + DNA(n) = diphosphate + DNA(n+1) Binds nucleotide much more tightly and catalyzes nucleotide insertion much more efficiently in the presence of Mg(2+) than in the presence of Mn(2+). The catalytic core consists of fingers, palm and thumb subdomains, but the fingers and thumb subdomains are much smaller than in high-fidelity polymerases; residues from five sequence motifs of the Y-family cluster around an active site cleft that can accommodate DNA and nucleotide substrates with relaxed geometric constraints, with consequently higher rates of misincorporation and low processivity. Belongs to the DNA polymerase type-Y family.