5'-deoxyribose-5-phosphate lyases catalyze the excision of the 5' deoxyribose-5-phosphate at an abasic site in DNA where a DNA-(apurinic or apyrimidinic site) lyase has already cleaved the C-O-P bond 3' to the apurinic or apyrimidinic site. These enzymes play an important role in base excision repair pathway responsible for the repair of DNA lesions. (Adapted from PMID:11457865).