Involved in recombinational repair of damaged DNA. Seems to be the first protein recruited to repair centers, foci that are the site of double-strand DNA break(s), followed by RecO and then RecF. Forms multimers, possibly octamers; these become larger following DNA damage. Recruited to foci following DNA damage; probably interacts with RecF and RecO. Cytoplasmically located in untreated cells. Recruited to foci following treatment with DNA damaging agents; these foci are presumably the breaks themselves. They are almost always located within nucleoids. Belongs to the RecN family.