Involved in base excision repair of DNA damaged by oxidation or by mutagenic agents. Acts as DNA glycosylase that recognizes and removes damaged bases. Has a preference for oxidized pyrimidines, such as thymine glycol, formamidopyrimidine (Fapy) and 5-hydroxyuracil. Has marginal activity towards 8-oxoguanine. Has AP (apurinic/apyrimidinic) lyase activity and introduces nicks in the DNA strand. Cleaves the DNA backbone by beta-delta elimination to generate a single-strand break at the site of the removed base with both 3'- and 5'-phosphates. Has DNA glycosylase/lyase activity towards mismatched uracil and thymine, in particular in U:C and T:C mismatches. Specifically binds 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), suggesting that it acts as a specific reader of 5hmC. 2'-deoxyribonucleotide-(2'-deoxyribose 5'-phosphate)-2'-deoxyribonucleotide-DNA = a 3'-end 2'-deoxyribonucleotide-(2,3-dehydro-2,3-deoxyribose 5'-phosphate)-DNA + a 5'-end 5'-monophospho-2'-deoxyribonucleoside-DNA + H(+) During mitosis, associates with centrosomes and condensed chromatin. Detected in heart, spleen and lung. Up-regulated during S-phase. Belongs to the FPG family.