This family of meiosis specific proteins is required for correct meiotic chromosome segregation and recombination [1]. It is required for meiotic DNA double-strand break (DSB) formation [4].

1: A large-scale screen in S. pombe identifies seven novel genes required for critical meiotic events. Martin-Castellanos C, Blanco M, Rozalen AE, Perez-Hidalgo L, Garcia AI, Conde F, Mata J, Ellermeier C, Davis L, San-Segundo P, Smith GR, Moreno S; Curr Biol. 2005;15:2056-2062. PMID:16303567

2: MEI4, a meiosis-specific yeast gene required for chromosome synapsis. Menees TM, Ross-MacDonald PB, Roeder GS; Mol Cell Biol. 1992;12:1340-1351. PMID:1545815

3: Functional interactions of Rec24, the fission yeast ortholog of mouse Mei4, with the meiotic recombination-initiation complex. Bonfils S, Rozalen AE, Smith GR, Moreno S, Martin-Castellanos C; J Cell Sci. 2011; [Epub ahead of print] PMID:21429938

4: Functional conservation of Mei4 for meiotic DNA double-strand break formation from yeasts to mice. Kumar R, Bourbon HM, de Massy B; Genes Dev. 2010;24:1266-1280. PMID:20551173