Single-stranded DNA-dependent ATP-dependent helicase that plays a key role in DNA non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) by recruiting DNA-PK to DNA. Required for double-strand break repair and V(D)J recombination. Also has a role in chromosome translocation. Has a role in chromosome translocation. The DNA helicase II complex binds preferentially to fork-like ends of double-stranded DNA in a cell cycle-dependent manner. It works in the 3'-5' direction. During NHEJ, the XRCC5-XRRC6 dimer performs the recognition step: it recognizes and binds to the broken ends of the DNA and protects them from further resection. Binding to DNA may be mediated by XRCC6. The XRCC5-XRRC6 dimer acts as regulatory subunit of the DNA-dependent protein kinase complex DNA-PK by increasing the affinity of the catalytic subunit PRKDC to DNA by 100-fold. The XRCC5-XRRC6 dimer is probably involved in stabilizing broken DNA ends and bringing them together. The assembly of the DNA-PK complex to DNA ends is required for the NHEJ ligation step. Probably also acts as a 5'-deoxyribose-5-phosphate lyase (5'-dRP lyase), by catalyzing the beta-elimination of the 5' deoxyribose-5-phosphate at an abasic site near double-strand breaks. 5'-dRP lyase activity allows to 'clean' the termini of abasic sites, a class of nucleotide damage commonly associated with strand breaks, before such broken ends can be joined. The XRCC5-XRRC6 dimer together with APEX1 acts as a negative regulator of transcription (By similarity). Heterodimer composed of XRCC5/Ku80 and XRCC6/Ku70. Component of the core long-range non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) complex (also named DNA-PK complex) composed of PRKDC, LIG4, XRCC4, XRCC6/Ku70, XRCC5/Ku86 and NHEJ1/XLF. Additional component of the NHEJ complex includes PAXX. Following autophosphorylation, PRKDC dissociates from DNA, leading to formation of the short-range NHEJ complex, composed of LIG4, XRCC4, XRCC6/Ku70, XRCC5/Ku86 and NHEJ1/XLF. Phosphorylated on serine residues. Belongs to the ku70 family.