Meiosis is a specialized type of cellular division which is used by all sexually reproducing species. This consists of one round of DNA replication followed by two rounds of cell division producing haploid cells containing half the number of chromosomes as the original parent cell. Eukaryotes utilize a number of DNA damage checkpoint mechanisms to maintain the integrity of the genome and ensure genetic mutations are not being passed on to successive generations. In this study, we assessed how the germline enriched, putative myosin heavy chain protein, ATZ-1, contributes to normal germline function. atz-1(ok3406) mutants show a clear reduction in brood size and an increase in embryonic lethality and oocyte chromosomes appear aggregated and disorganized. Furthermore, brc-1, a key gene in DNA damage repair, was observed to have increased expression in atz-1 mutants, suggesting that the absence of atz-1 may lead to an accumulation of DNA damage. In addition to this, the meiotic specific cohesion protein, REC-8, is significantly depleted in atz-1 mutants, potentially delaying homologous pairing and preventing appropriate repair of DNA double-stranded breaks. Moreover, atz-1(ok3406) mutants are hypersensitive to mild inhibition of DNA replication, suggesting that the initial stages of meiosis are compromised in atz-1(ok3406) mutants. Collectively, this data suggests that ATZ-1 is required for normal germline function by influencing the initial stages of meiosis to maintain germline integrity.