The SMC (structural maintenance of chromosomes) family of proteins form heterodimeric complexes that modulate sister chromatid cohesion and chromosome condensation for mitosis. SMC1α (structural maintenance of chromosomes protein 1A), also known as SMC1, SMCB, CDLS2, SB1.8, SMC1L1 or DXS423E, is a component of the cohesion complex, which is required for the cohesion of sister chromatids after DNA replication. Most of the cohesin complexes dissociate from the chromosomes before mitosis, although those complexes at the kinetochore remain. Therefore, the encoded protein is thought to be an important part of functional kinetochores. In addition, this protein interacts with BRCA1 and is phosphorylated by ATM, indicating a potential role for this protein in DNA repair.
