KNL1: bringing order to the kinetochore

KNL1 is an evolutionarily conserved kinetochore-associated protein essential for accurate chromosome segregation in eukaryotic cells. This large scaffold protein, predicted to be almost entirely unstructured, is involved in diverse mitotic processes including kinetochore assembly, chromosome congression, and mitotic checkpoint signaling. How this kinetochore “hub” coordinates protein–protein interactions spatially and temporally during mitosis to orchestrate these processes is an area of active investigation. Here we summarize the current understanding of KNL1 and discuss possible mechanisms by which this protein actively contributes to multiple aspects of mitotic progression.