Sister chromatid cohesion is essential both for alignment of chromosomes at metaphase and for DNA repair in G2 phase. Cohesion is maintained by the multiprotein complex cohesin and cohesin-associated proteins, such as Pds5. Present in S. cerevisiae, A. nidulans and metazoans, Pds5 is implicated in establishment and maintenance of chromatid cohesion; however,its importance and precise role have proven difficult to define. Chris Norbury and co-workers have therefore characterized the Pds5 orthologue from the model organism S. pombe. They find that, unlike S. cerevisiaePds5p, S. pombe Pds5 is non-essential and is not required for chromosome condensation. Nevertheless, it does appear to function in chromatid cohesion: the authors provide genetic and biochemical evidence for interaction between Pds5 and cohesin components such as Rad21; in addition, they find that pds5 mutants exhibit high levels of chromosomal abnormalities and that Pds5 becomes essential if mitotic progression is delayed. S. pombe Pds5 thus...

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