Jackie Lang

Research Summary

I have developed a cell-free method for assembling yeast kinetochores that contain all kinetochore subcomplexes and exhibit microtubule-binding activity. Furthermore, the in vitro assembly appears to be stepwise and is dependent on the CENP-A chaperone. Initially, we have been using this technique to explore a novel role for the mitotic kinase Aurora B in promoting kinetochore assembly. We have also been using this method to map the hierarchy of inner kinetochore assembly by performing in vitro assembly in the absence of individual proteins.