Pds5 plays a crucial role in sister chromatid cohesion. Together with WapI and Scc3, it is involved in the release of the cohesin complex from chromosomes during S phase. The core of the cohesin complex consists of a coiled-coiled heterodimer of Smc1 and Smc30, together with Scc1 (also called kleisin). Pds5 interacts with Scc1 via a conserved patch on the surface of its heat repeats. Pds5 also promotes the acetylation of Smc3 that protects cohesin from releasing activity in G2 phase.