Ring Finger Protein 212 (RNF212)

Zhp3 knockout worms showed normal homolog pairing and synaptonemal complex formation. The timing of appearance and the nuclear localization of the recombination protein Rad51 seemed normal in these animals, suggesting proper initiation of meiotic recombination by DNA double-strand breaks.

However, the occurrence of univalents during diplotene indicated that C. elegans Zhp3 protein is essential for reciprocal recombination between homologous chromosomes and thus chiasma formation. In the absence of Zhp3, reciprocal recombination was abolished and double-strand breaks seemed to be repaired via alternative pathways, leading to achiasmatic chromosomes and the occurrence of univalents during meiosis I.