Cheeseman Lab

Chromosome segregation during mitosis requires the kinetochore to mediate attachments between chromosomal DNA and spindle microtubule polymers. Our lab is interested in understanding the molecular basis for kinetochore function. We use a combination of proteomics, biochemistry, and cell biology to examine kinetochore composition, structure, organization, and function.

The goal of our laboratory is to define the molecular mechanisms by which accurate cell division occurs. To grow from a single cell to the 30 trillion cells present in the human body, cells duplicate through cell division. During each cell division, the entire complement of genetic material must be accurately partitioned to the daughter cells. Even a single chromosome mis-segregation event can be catastrophic, resulting in the loss or gain of hundreds of genes, with severe consequences for development and disease.

Research focuses on the kinetochore, the central player in directing chromosome segregation. The kinetochore is a macromolecular structure composed of more than 100 different proteins that act to connect chromosomes to the microtubule polymers that power their movement, and integrate regulatory signals to ensure the proper timing and fidelity of chromosome segregation. Although the central importance of the kinetochore has long been appreciated, the molecular basis for its many activities remains poorly understood. We use parallel biochemical and cell biological approaches to analyze kinetochore composition, structure, organization, regulation, and how kinetochore proteins function to achieve proper chromosome segregation.