Domain structure of separase and its binding to securin as determined by EM

After the degradation of its inhibitor securin, separase initiates chromosome segregation during the metaphase-to-anaphase transition by cleaving cohesin. Here we present a density map at a resolution of 25 angstrom of negatively stained separase-securin complex. Based on labeling data and sequence analysis, we propose a model for the structure of separase, consisting of 26 ARM repeats, an unstructured region of 280 residues and two caspase-like domains, with securin binding to the ARM repeats.