ESPL1

Stable cohesion between sister chromatids before anaphase and their timely separation during anaphase are critical for chromosome inheritance. In vertebrates, sister chromatid cohesion is released in 2 steps via distinct mechanisms. The first step involves phosphorylation of STAG1 (MIM 604358) or STAG2 (MIM 604359) in the cohesin complex. The second step involves cleavage of the cohesin subunit SCC1 (RAD21; MIM 606462) by ESPL1, or separase, which initiates the final separation of sister chromatids (Sun et al., 2009 [PubMed 19345191]).[supplied by OMIM

Full Name

extra spindle pole bodies homolog 1 (S. cerevisiae)

Research Area

Caspase-like protease, which plays a central role in the chromosome segregation by cleaving the SCC1/RAD21 subunit of the cohesin complex at the onset of anaphase. During most of the cell cycle, it is inactivated by different mechanisms.

Biological Process

Apoptotic process Source: UniProtKB
Establishment of mitotic spindle localization Source: UniProtKB
Homologous chromosome segregation Source: Ensembl
Meiotic chromosome separation Source: GO_Central
Meiotic spindle organization Source: Ensembl
Mitotic cytokinesis Source: UniProtKB
Mitotic sister chromatid segregation Source: UniProtKB
Negative regulation of sister chromatid cohesion Source: UniProtKB
Positive regulation of mitotic metaphase/anaphase transition Source: UniProtKB

Cellular Location

Nucleus; Cytoplasm

PTM

Autocleaves. This function, which is not essential for its protease activity, is unknown.
Phosphorylated by CDK1. There are 8 Ser/Thr phosphorylation sites. Among them, Ser-1126 phosphorylation is the major site, which conducts to the enzyme inactivation.