RAD51 family members are evolutionarily conserved proteins essential for DNA repair by homologous recombination.

Overexpression of this gene was found to cause cell cycle G1 delay and cell apoptosis, which suggested a role of this protein in sensing DNA damage.

At least three alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been observed.

[7] RAD51L1 is employed in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks.

[8] Different polymorphisms of the RAD51L1 gene modulate sensitivity to gamma rays and also glioma risk.