Separase, an enzyme that resolves sister chromatid cohesion during the metaphase‐to‐anaphase transition, plays a pivotal role in chromosomal segregation and cell division. Separase protein, encoded by the extra spindle pole bodies like 1 (ESPL1) gene, is overexpressed in numerous human cancers including breast, bone, brain, and prostate. Separase is oncogenic, and its overexpression is sufficient to induce mammary tumours in mice. Either acute or chronic overexpression of separase in mouse mammary glands leads to aneuploidy and tumorigenesis, and inhibition of separase enzymatic activity decreases the growth of human breast tumour xenografts in mice. This review focuses on the biology of and insights into the molecular mechanisms of separase as an oncogene, and its significance and implications for human cancers.

中文翻译：

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Cohesin 蛋白酶分离酶在人类恶性肿瘤中的作用的生物学和见解

分离酶是一种在中期到后期转变过程中解决姐妹染色单体内聚力的酶，在染色体分离和细胞分裂中起着关键作用。分离酶蛋白由额外的纺锤体像 1 (ESPL1) 基因编码，在许多人类癌症中过度表达，包括乳腺癌、骨癌、脑癌和前列腺癌。分离酶是致癌的，它的过度表达足以在小鼠中诱发乳腺肿瘤。小鼠乳腺中分离酶的急性或慢性过度表达会导致非整倍体和肿瘤发生，并且分离酶酶活性的抑制会降低小鼠中人乳腺肿瘤异种移植物的生长。本综述重点关注分离酶作为致癌基因的分子机制的生物学和洞察，及其对人类癌症的意义和影响。