Subunit of the condensin complex; required for establishment and maintenance of chromosome condensation, chromosome segregation and chromatin binding by the complex; required for tRNA genes clustering at the nucleolus; required for replication slow zone breakage following Mec1p inactivation; transcription is cell cycle regulated, peaking in mitosis and declining in G1; protein is constitutively degraded by the proteasome; rate limiting for condensin recruitment to chromatin