The PRKDC gene encodes the catalytic subunit of a nuclear DNA-dependent serine/threonine protein kinase (DNA-PK). The second component is the autoimmune antigen Ku (MIM 152690), which is encoded by the G22P1 gene on chromosome 22q. On its own, the catalytic subunit of DNA-PK is inactive and relies on the G22P1 component to direct it to the DNA and trigger its kinase activity; PRKDC must be bound to DNA to express its catalytic properties.