Hydrolyzes DNA under acidic conditions with a preference for double-stranded DNA. Plays a major role in the degradation of nuclear DNA in cellular apoptosis during development. Necessary for proper fetal development and for definitive erythropoiesis in fetal liver, where it degrades nuclear DNA expelled from erythroid precursor cells. Endonucleolytic cleavage to nucleoside 3'-phosphates and 3'-phosphooligonucleotide end-products. Glycosylated. Mutations that eliminate N-glycosylation sites reduce activity, but enzymatic deglycosylation has no effect. Not required for the generation of the characteristic DNA fragmentation observed in apoptotic cells, but for the degradation of DNA from dying cells. Belongs to the DNase II family.