Acts as a chaperone and as an inhibitor for separase sep-1 (PubMed:27249343, PubMed:28263324). Plays an essential role in maintaining chromosome cohesion prior to meiotic and mitotic anaphase, in cytokinesis and in organizing the spindle and the centrosome (PubMed:12498686). Ubiquitination-dependent degradation at the onset of anaphase is likely to activate sep-1 resulting in the proteolysis of the cohesin complex and the subsequent segregation of the chromosomes (PubMed:12498686, PubMed:23578927). Also required for cortical granule exocytosis (PubMed:17913784). Forms a complex (via C-terminus) with separase sep-1 (PubMed:12498686, PubMed:23578927, PubMed:27249343, PubMed:28263324). Interaction with ify-1 stabilizes sep-1 (PubMed:27249343, PubMed:28263324). Also maintains the complex in the cytoplasm during interphase and recruits it to chromosomes during the first meiotic division (PubMed:23578927). Interacts with E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase etc-1 (PubMed:23578927). Localizes to cytoplasm in germ cells. After oocyte nuclear envelope breakdown, localizes to chromosomes and spindle microtubules until meiotic anaphase I where the chromosome localization disappears. Maintained at low levels in the cytoplasm during meiosis II and in subsequent mitotic divisions during early embryogenesis. Localizes to chromosomes during mitotic metaphase at the 4E embryonic stage. Expressed in germ cells including oocytes. Ubiquitinated by etc-1 likely at the onset of anaphase, resulting in its degradation. RNAi-mediated knockdown causes embryonic lethality (PubMed:12498686). Embryos are arrested at the one-cell stage (PubMed:12498686). During the first mitotic division, embryos have defects in mitotic spindle formation, and centrosome duplication and positioning (PubMed:12498686). Chromosomes are decondensed, disorganized and accumulate due to a lack of cytokinesis (PubMed:12498686). RNAi-mediated knockdown at the larval stage causes in F1 embryos a loss of chromosome separation during meiosis I and no formation of polar bodies (PubMed:12498686). During meiosis, impaired cortical granule exocytosis (PubMed:17913784). Immediately after fertilization causes a reduction in cyclin cyb-1 protein levels (PubMed:23578927).