When does Cohesin degrade at the chiasmata during meiosis?

Cohesin is a protein complex that plays a crucial role in holding sister chromatids together during cell division. In meiosis, specifically during Anaphase I, the cohesin that is located at the chiasmata, the points where homologous chromosomes are physically linked following crossing over, begins to degrade.

This degradation is essential for the proper separation of chromosomes. During Anaphase I, the homologous chromosomes are pulled apart to opposite poles of the cell. This movement is required for the reductional division characteristic of meiosis, where the number of chromosomes is halved. If cohesin were to remain intact at the chiasmata during this stage, the homologous chromosomes would not be able to separate correctly, leading to improper chromosome segregation.

The timing of cohesin degradation is tightly regulated, and its breakdown at the chiasmata during Anaphase I is a critical step ensuring that meiosis occurs correctly, thus allowing for genetic diversity through the proper distribution of chromosomes to the daughter cells.