Final answer:
Cohesin proteins are responsible for binding DNA and maintaining the connection between sister chromatids at the centromere after replication, ensuring proper chromosome segregation during cell division.
Step-by-step explanation:
In cell division, cohesin proteins are the proteins that bind DNA following replication to maintain a tight linkage between the chromatids. During DNA duplication in the S phase of interphase, each chromosome is replicated to produce two identical copies, known as sister chromatids, which are then held together at the centromere by cohesin proteins. These proteins are crucial for the proper segregation of the sister chromatids during the later stages of cell division, particularly during anaphase II when they are separated and distributed to the daughter cells.
Cohesin ensures that the identical sister chromatids remain connected after DNA replication, allowing them to be properly aligned and separated during mitosis or meiosis. The connection between the sister chromatids is closest in a region called the centromere, where cohesin's role is particularly critical. This ensures that the sister chromatids, which are visible under a light microscope due to their highly condensed centromeric region, do not prematurely separate