InterPro domain: IPR030548

DNA repair protein RAD51 homologue 2 (also known as RAD51B) is a Rad51 paralogue. The Rad51 paralogues are required for homologous recombination (HR) and the maintenance of genomic stability. RAD51B is involved in the repair of double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) via HR [ 1 ]. It is part of the Rad51B-Rad51C-Rad51D-XRCC2 (BCDX2) complex, which acts in the BRCA1-BRCA2-dependent HR pathway [ 2 , 3 ]. It has DNA-dependent ATPase activity and can bind single-stranded and double-stranded DNA [ 4 ]. Rad51B may have a specific function in Holliday junction processing in the HR pathway [ 5 ].

1. Arabidopsis Rad51B is important for double-strand DNA breaks repair in somatic cells. Plant Mol. Biol. 57, 819-33
2. Identification and purification of two distinct complexes containing the five RAD51 paralogs. Genes Dev. 15, 3296-307
3. Rad51 paralog complexes BCDX2 and CX3 act at different stages in the BRCA1-BRCA2-dependent homologous recombination pathway. Mol. Cell. Biol. 33, 387-95
4. Holliday junction binding activity of the human Rad51B protein. J. Biol. Chem. 278, 2767-72