Separase Background Information Separase is a cysteine protease that triggers anaphase in all eukaryotes by participating in separation of sister chromatids during mitosis. Once activated, Separase hydrolyzes the SCC1 subunit of cohesin, the chromosomal protein complex responsible for sister chromatid cohesion. Separase and cohesin are highly conserved from yeasts to humans. When the cell is not dividing, Separase is prevented from cleaving cohesin through its association with another protein, securin. When anaphase is signaled, the securin is ubiquitinated and hydrolyzed by APC/cyclosome, releasing the active Separase. Separase is transiently activated between the two meioses and may also be involved in homolog separation.
