The SMC (structural maintenance of chromosomes) family of proteins form heterodimeric complexes that modulate sister chromatid cohesion and chromosome condensation for mitosis. The two distinct classes of SMC protein complexes are comprised of SMC1 (also designated SB1.8) with SMC3 (also designated hCAP and Bamacan), and SMC2 (also designated hCAP-E for chromosome-associated polypeptide E) with hCAP-C. The SMC2/hCAP-C complex is required for mitotic chromosome condensation and functions independently of the SMC1/SMC3 complex during the cell cycle. Both SMC2 and hCAP-C are expressed throughout the cell cycle in a variety of cell lines, including HeLa cells, Daudi B cells, Jurkat T cells, SK2 neuronal cells, and HepG2 liver cells.