RAD51D plays an important role in DNA repair by homologous recombination (HR) and together with other RAD51 paralogues, RAD51B, RAD51C, XRCC3 and XRCC2, helps recruiting RAD51 to the break site [1-3]. This entry represents the N-terminal domain which is essential for protein-protein interaction with XRCC2 and consists of four short helices flanked by long N- and C-terminal tails [1]. This domain can bind DNA, preferentially ssDNA [1].

1: Structural and functional characterization of the N-terminal domain of human Rad51D. Kim YM, Choi BS; Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2011;43:416-422. PMID:21111057

2: The homologous recombination protein RAD51D mediates the processing of 6-thioguanine lesions downstream of mismatch repair. Rajesh P, Litvinchuk AV, Pittman DL, Wyatt MD; Mol Cancer Res. 2011;9:206-214. PMID:21205838

3: RAD51 paralogs: roles in DNA damage signalling, recombinational repair and tumorigenesis. Suwaki N, Klare K, Tarsounas M; Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2011;22:898-905. PMID:21821141