Meiosis-specific HORMAD protein required for chromosome synapsis; displays Red1p-dependent localization to unsynapsed axial-lateral elements of the synaptonemal complex; required for chiasma formation; binds chromatin to regulate initiation of meiotic recombination; promotes intra- and intermolecular synapsis between dsDNA molecules and folds DNA into rigid protein-DNA filaments in vitro; contains a HORMA domain, and a chromatin-binding region made up of PHD and winged helix-turn-helix domains