Kinetochores are megadalton-sized protein complexes that mediate chromosome–microtubule interactions in eukaryotes. How kinetochore assembly is triggered specifically on centromeric chromatin is poorly understood. Here we use biochemical reconstitution experiments alongside genetic and structural analysis to delineate the contributions of centromere-associated proteins to kinetochore assembly in yeast. We show that the conserved kinetochore subunits Ame1 CENP-U and Okp1 CENP-Q form a DNA-binding complex that associates with the microtubule-binding KMN network via a short Mtw1 recruitment motif in the N terminus of Ame1. Point mutations in the Ame1 motif disrupt kinetochore function by preventing KMN assembly on chromatin. Ame1–Okp1 directly associates with the centromere protein C (CENP-C) homologue Mif2 to form a cooperative binding platform for outer kinetochore assembly. Our results indicate that the key assembly steps, CENP-A recognition and outer kinetochore recruitment, are executed through different yeast constitutive centromere-associated network subunits. This two-step mechanism may protect against inappropriate kinetochore assembly similar to rate-limiting nucleation steps used by cytoskeletal polymers.

Kinetochores must remain associated with microtubule ends, as they undergo rapid transitions between growth and shrinkage. The molecular basis for this essential activity that ensures correct chromosome segregation is unclear. In this study, we have used reconstitution of dynamic microtubules and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy to define the functional relationship between two important budding yeast kinetochore complexes. We find that the Dam1 complex is an autonomous plus end–tracking complex. The Ndc80 complex, despite being structurally related to the general tip tracker EB1, fails to recognize growing ends efficiently. Dam1 oligomers are necessary and sufficient to recruit Ndc80 to dynamic microtubule ends, where both complexes remain continuously associated. The interaction occurs specifically in the presence of microtubules and is subject to regulation by Ipl1 phosphorylation. These findings can explain how the force harvested by Dam1 is transmitted to the rest of the kinetochore via the Ndc80 complex.