Time To Split Up: Dynamics of Chromosome Separation

The separation of chromosomes in anaphase is a precarious step in the cell cycle. The separation is irreversible, and any error can lead to cell death or genetic instability. Chromosome separation is controlled by the protease separase. Here we discuss recent work that has revealed additional layers of separase regulation and has deepened our understanding of how separase activation is coordinated with other events of mitotic exit.