Rebecca W. Heald, Ph.D.

Research

The long-term goal of my laboratory is to elucidate the principles that underlie spindle assembly and function, and to identify and study the roles of individual proteins involved. Our primary approach is to reconstitute the process in a test tube by preparing functional cellular extracts that can be studied using biochemical and microscopy techniques. In addition, we are developing chemical genetic, proteomic and reconstitution approaches to identify and characterize the key factors important for cell division. In order to study spindle assembly in vitro, we use eggs from the African frog Xenopus laevis to prepare cytoplasmic extracts that are open to cell cycle regulation, biochemical manipulation and high-resolution microscopy. Current projects in the laboratory address the mechanisms behind the dramatic events of spindle assembly and function.