During meiosis, the homologous chromosomes pair and recombine, a process essential for generating genetically distinct haploid cells. The unique behavior displayed by meiotic chromosomes has been linked to the activities of a meiosis-specific supramolecular proteinaceous structure, the synaptonemal complex (SC). Three meiosis-specific components of the SC have been characterized in mammals, SCP1, SCP2 and SCP3. SCP3 has a C-terminal coiled-coil domain that has been shown to promote homotypic interactions in vitro.