Involved in DNA cleavage that forms the double-strand breaks (DSB) that initiate meiotic recombination. Interacts with SPO11-1 (PubMed:17762870, PubMed:28855712). According to PubMed:28855712, may interact with SPO11-2; this is in contradiction with PubMed:9461215 which claims that it seems to not interact with SPO11-2 (PubMed:28855712, PubMed:17762870). Binds to DFO, PRD3 and MTOPVIB (PubMed:28855712). Facilitates an interaction between PRD3 and DFO (PubMed:28855712). Expressed in flower buds. The N-terminal domain (1-802) but not the C-terminal domain (755-1330) is essential for interaction with SPO11-1. Plants exhibit reduced fertility and meiotic defects (PubMed:17762870). Drastic decrease in chiasma formation at metaphase I associated with an absence of synapsis in prophase, due to the inability to make double-strand breaks (DSB) (PubMed:19763177).