RAD51C mutant oocytes (bottom), but not wild-type oocytes (top), show broken chromosomes (inset) and abnormal sister chromatid cohesion.
Homologous recombination during prophase I of meiosis ensures genetic variability in gamete genomes. Seven members of the RecA/RAD51 family are each essential for homologous recombination. All are thought to be important for early recombination events—such as forming the RAD51 foci that jump-start the process—but in vitro evidence suggested that one member, RAD51C, might also be important for the much later step of Holliday junction resolution.
Mutant female mice now further support this in vitro evidence. The team found that mice with too little RAD51C are frequently infertile. In infertile males, the majority of spermatocytes arrested at prophase I and their chromosomes had fewer RAD51 foci. Some spermatocytes progressed to metaphase I but had fewer chiasmata. Both of these defects are consistent with early recombination failure.
In infertile females, however, meiosis progressed through to metaphase II before problems appeared. These oocytes seemed to fail to resolve Holliday junctions, as suggested by the appearance of aneuploidy, broken chromosomes, and precocious separation of sister chromatids. Unlike sperm, eggs have a long lag between prophase I and metaphase II. This could provide the RAD51C-deficient eggs with time to correct the metaphase I defect or to be deleted if they don't. Indeed the sterile females had fewer eggs. It is this fortuitous feature of egg development—their tolerance to infidelities—that allowed the later stage defects to be revealed.
RAD51C does not itself possess the endonuclease activity required for resolving Holliday junctions. Determining its interaction partners and mechanism of action at this late stage of recombination is the team's next step. 
