Meiosis-specific component of the sister chromatid cohesion complex; alpha-kleisin family member that maintains cohesion between homologous chromosomes during meiosis I until chromosome arm-associated Rec8p is cleaved by Esp1p; cohesion between sister chromatid centromeres is maintained until metaphase of meiosis II when it is cleaved by Esp1; independent of the role in cohesion, Rec8p promotes allelic collisions and prevents nonspecific chromosome interactions; homolog of S. pombe Rec8p