Disease: Breast cancer Mirror movements 2 Defects in RAD51 are found in a patient with microcephaly, mental retardation without bone marrow failure and pediatric cancers. Domain: The nuclear localization may reside in the C-terminus (between 259 and 339 AA). Function: Plays an important role in homologous strand exchange, a key step in DNA repair through homologous recombination. Binds to single and double-stranded DNA and exhibits DNA-dependent ATPase activity. Catalyzes the recognition of homology and strand exchange between homologous DNA partners to form a joint molecule between a processed DNA break and the repair template. Binds to single-stranded DNA in an ATP-dependent manner to form nucleoprotein filaments which are essential for the homology search and strand exchange (PubMed:26681308). Part of a PALB2-scaffolded HR complex containing BRCA2 and RAD51C and which is thought to play a role in DNA repair by HR. Plays a role in regulating mitochondrial DNA copy number under conditions of oxidative stress in the presence of RAD51C and XRCC3. PTM: Ubiquitinated by the SCF(FBXO18) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, regulating RAD51 subcellular location and preventing its association with DNA. Phosphorylated. Phosphorylation of Thr-309 by CHEK1 may enhance association with chromatin at sites of DNA damage and promote DNA repair by homologous recombination. Phosphorylation by ABL1 inhibits function. Similarity: Belongs to the RecA family. RAD51 subfamily. Contains 1 HhH domain. Tissue specificity: Highly expressed in testis and thymus, followed by small intestine, placenta, colon, pancreas and ovary. Weakly expressed in breast.