Involved primarily in the early steps of meiotic recombination. Required to ensure reductional chromosome segregation. Interacts with moa1. Localizes to meiotic chromosomal axis sites. Abundant at 3 hours after induction of meiosis but undetectable before induction or at 4 hours and later. Phosphorylated during prophase until after meiosis I. Belongs to the rad21 family.