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Anaphase specific auto‐cleavage of separase
Author(s) -
Zou Hui,
Stemman Olaf,
Anderson Jens S,
Mann Matthias,
Kirschner Marc W
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(02)03238-6
Subject(s) - separase , securin , anaphase , cleavage (geology) , cohesin , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , sister chromatids , biology , biochemistry , gene , cell cycle , chromosome , paleontology , fracture (geology)
Sister‐chromatid separation is triggered by a specific proteolytic cleavage of chromosomal cohesins catalyzed by the endopeptidase separase. Prior to anaphase, separase is inhibited independently by affinity binding to securin and by specific inhibitory phosphorylation. Here we show that separase itself is also subjected to proteolytic cleavages at three adjacent sites. The cleavages are auto‐catalyzed and occur specifically at anaphase coincident with separase activation. The cleaved fragments remain associated with each other and are catalytically active. Mapping of the cleavage sites reveals that all three sites are conserved in vertebrates underlining a significant function for this regulation.