Ya-Hsuan (Judy) Lin

Profile

Project Title: In vitro reconstitution of cooperative interactions within human outer kinetochores

Summary: Proper genetic material inheritance relies on coordinated action of kinetochore proteins, securing chromosome attachment to microtubules of mitotic spindles. The recruitment of microtubule-binding proteins to human kinetochores occurs in a cooperative manner, yet the molecular mechanisms governing homotypic interactions within protein oligomers remain unclear.

Building on recent characterization of the loop region of the human Ndc80 complex as an interaction interface between adjacent Ndc80 complexes bound to microtubules, I will focus on additional cooperative interfaces that stabilise Ndc80-microtubule binding. To this end, we will focus on potential Ndc80:Ndc80 interactions within folded and disordered regions adjacent to the microtubule-binding site of the Ndc80 complex. I will use tools such as protein engineering, in vitro reconstitution of multivalent microtubule end-binding complexes, and single-molecule fluorescence microscopy, to understand the role of cooperative interactions in the self-assembly of microtubule end-tracking and force-transmitting oligomers.

Supervisor:

• Dr Vladimir Volkov

Research