Cohesin in cancer: chromosome segregation and beyond

Cohesin is an evolutionarily conserved, four-subunit complex that entraps DNA fibres within its ring-shaped structure. It was originally identified and named for its role in mediating sister chromatid cohesion, which is essential for chromosome segregation and DNA repair. Increasing evidence indicates that cohesin participates in other processes that involve DNA looping, most importantly, transcriptional regulation. Mutations in genes encoding cohesin subunits and other regulators of the complex have recently been identified in several types of tumours. Whether aneuploidy that results from chromosome missegregation is the major contribution of cohesin mutations to cancer progression is under debate.