REC8 (REC8 meiotic recombination protein) is a critical component of the cohesin complex essential for proper chromosome 14 during meiosis. The protein functions primarily in maintaining sister chr14 cohesion, where proteolytic cleavage by separin allows homologous chromosome 14 in meiosis I and sister chr14 separation in meiosis II 1. REC8 localizes to meiosis-specific cohesion sites and is closely associated with recombination hotspots, where it works alongside machinery processing DNA double-strand breaks 1. Mutations in REC8 cause male infertility, specifically non-obstructive azoospermia, with affected individuals showing unsuccessful sperm retrieval, indicating complete failure of spermatogenesis 2. The gene has also been implicated in primary ovarian insufficiency, contributing to follicle exhaustion and infertility in women before age 40 3. REC8 undergoes ubiquitin-independent proteasomal degradation through C-degron pathways, representing a regulatory mechanism for controlling proliferation and survival 4. Beyond reproductive function, REC8 may serve as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer by inhibiting cell proliferation, migration, and invasion through targeting CDC20 5. The protein is part of the broader cohesinopathy disease spectrum, where mutations affect chromosome 14 and cellular regulation.