Ben E. Black, Ph.D.
Ben E. Black
Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Department: Biochemistry and Biophysics
Graduate Group Affiliations
Contact information
913A Stellar-Chance Laboratories
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Office: 215-898-5039
Fax: 215-573-7058
Fax: 215-573-7058
Email:
blackbe@mail.med.upenn.edu
blackbe@mail.med.upenn.edu
Publications
Links
Search PubMed for articles
Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics webpage
Abramson Cancer Center webpage
CAMB faculty webpage
Search PubMed for articles
Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics webpage
Abramson Cancer Center webpage
CAMB faculty webpage
Education:
B.A. (Biology)
Carleton College, 1997.
PhD (Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics)
University of Virginia, 2002.
Permanent linkB.A. (Biology)
Carleton College, 1997.
PhD (Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics)
University of Virginia, 2002.
Description of Research Expertise
Description of Research:Dr. Black's laboratory is interested in how particular proteins direct accurate chromosome segregation at mitosis. In humans, the chromosomal element—the centromere—that directs this process is not defined by a particular DNA sequence. Rather, the location of the centromere is dictated by an epigenetic mark generated by one or more resident proteins. These centromeric proteins interact directly with the DNA to create a specialized chromatin compartment that is distinct from any other part of the chromosome. By taking biophysical, biochemical, and cell biological approaches, our work is to define the composition and physical characteristics of the protein and protein/DNA complexes that epigenetically mark the location of the centromere on the chromosome. This work involves building centromeric chromatin from its component parts for analysis of its physical characteristics, developing biochemical assays to reconstitute steps in the process of establishing and maintaining the epigenetic mark, and using cell-based approaches to study the behavior of proteins involved in centromere inheritance and other essential aspects related to chromosome segregation at cell division.
Lab personnel:
Emily Bassett - Ph.D. Student, BMB
Jamie DeNizio - Research Specialist
Samantha Falk - Ph.D. Student, CAMB
Glennis Logsdon - Ph.D. Rotation Student, BMB
Tanya Panchenko - Ph.D. Student, CAMB
Kevan Salimian - M.D./Ph.D. Student, BMB
Nikolina Sekulic - Postdoctoral Researcher
Evan Smoak - Ph.D. Student, BMB (co-mentored with Dr. Michael Lampson)
Selected Publications
Bassett, E.A., DeNizio, J., Barnhart-Dailey, M.C., Panchenko, T., Sekulic, N., Rogers, D.J., Foltz, D.R., Black, B.E.: HJURP uses distinct CENP-A surfaces to recognize and to stabilize CENP-A/histone H4 for centromere assembly. Developmental Cell 22: 749-762, 2012.Sekulic, N., Black B.E.: Molecular Underpinnings of Centromere Identity and Maintenance. Trends in Biochemical Sciences 37: 220-229, 2012 Notes: Cover Article.
Falk, S.J., Black, B.E.: Centromeric chromatin and the pathway that drives its propagation. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta-Gene Regulatory Mechanisms 1819: 313-321, 2012.
Panchenko, T., Sorensen, T.C., Woodcock, C.L., Kan, Z.Y., Wood, S., Resch, M.G., Luger, K., Englander, S.W., Hansen, J.C., Black, B.E.: Replacement of histone H3 with CENP-A directs global nucleosome array condensation and loosening of nucleosome superhelical termini. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 108: 16588-16593, October 2011.
Salimian, K.J., Ballister, E.R., Smoak, E.M., Wood, S., Panchenko, T., Lampson, M.A., Black, B.E.: Feedback control in sensing chromosome biorientation by the Aurora B kinase. Current Biology 21: 1158-1165, July 2011.
Hansen, J.C., Wexler, B.B., Rogers, D.J., Hite, K.C., Panchenko, T., Ajith, S., Black, B.E.. : DNA binding restricts the intrinsic conformational flexibility of methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2). Journal of Biological Chemistry 286: 18938-18948, May 2011.
Black, B.E., Cleveland, D.W.: Epigenetic centromere propagation and the nature of CENP-A nucleosomes. Cell 144: 471-479, Feb 2011.
Sekulic, N., Bassett, E.A., Rogers, D.J., Black, B.E.: The structure of (CENP-A/H4)(2) reveals physical features that mark centromeres. Nature 467: 347-351, September 2010.
Bassett, E.A., Wood, S., Salimian, K.J., Ajith, S., Foltz, D.R., Black, B.E.: Epigenetic centromere specification directs aurora B accumulation but is insufficient to efficiently correct mitotic errors. Journal of Cell Biology 190: 177-185, July 2010.
Foltz, D.R., Jansen, L.E.T., Bailey, A.O., Yates III, J.R., Bassett, E.A., Wood, S., Black, B.E., Cleveland, D.W.: Centromere-specific assembly of CENP-A nucleosomes is mediated by HJURP. Cell 137: 472-484, May 2009.