Component of the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein complex (U1 snRNP) involved in the initiation of meiotic recombination (PubMed:1603056, PubMed:7625279). Involved in the formation of DSBs at recombination hot-spots through meiosis-specific splicing of REC107 pre-mRNA (PubMed:7625279, PubMed:9112441, PubMed:21788335). Collaborates with MER1 to promote splicing of essential meiotic mRNAs REC10, AMA1, MER3, HFM1, SPO22 and PCH2 (PubMed:10983980, PubMed:21208980, PubMed:21788335). NAM8 interacts with the pre-mRNA downstream of the 5' splice site, in a region of non-conserved sequence and is required for efficient splicing of uncapped RNA precursor (PubMed:10072385). Component of the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein complex (U1 snRNP). The RNA binding domains RRM2 and RRM3 are required for NAM8 meiotic function (PubMed:21788335, PubMed:21208980). Within the U1 snRNP complex, the RRM2 domain of NAM8 is positioned to bind to the intronic region immediately down-stream of nucleotide +13 (PubMed:31485080). Affects the meiotic recombination and the formation of viable spores. Present with 1480 molecules/cell in log phase SD medium.