[Activity of separase and its regulation]

Abstract

Sister chromatids separation is under precise regulation during cell cycle. Any turbulence happened in the separation process can cause instability in the transmission of inherited material, and may cause: death or disease of cell or even individual. In eukaryotic cells, one conserved mechanism governs the separation of sister chromatids. Cohesion between sister chromatids is established during DNA replication and depends on a multiprotein complex called cohesin. At the metaphase to anaphase transition, separase is activated by proteolysis of securin. Separase can cleave one of cohesin's subunits, and then promote cohesin dissociation and sister chromatids separation.