I am investigating the mechanisms by which functional kinetochores are assembled in vitro using Xenopus extracts and in vivo using tissue culture model systems. My research focuses on addressing the following questions using a combination of cell biology, biochemistry, and molcular biology. How is the site of kinetochore assembly specified along the length of the chromosome? How is the site of kinetochore assembly maintained and propagated over successive rounds of cell division? How do the properties of individual kinetochore proteins contribute to the overall function of the kinetochore? How are kinetochore proteins assembled into a functional macromolecular complex during mitosis?
