Sister Chromatid Cohesion at the Centromere: Confrontation between Kinases and Phosphatases?

Accurate chromosome segregation in mitosis and meiosis requires that the cohesin complex be protected at the centromere by the Shugoshin/MEI-S332 protein family. Recent studies show that Sgo directly binds the phosphatase PP2A, tethering it to the centromere where it can protect cohesin subunits from phosphorylation, and that localization of Sgo/MEI-S332 itself is regulated by phosphorylation.