Ben E. Black
Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics

Cell Biology and Physiology Program

Address

913A Stellar-Chance Bldg (Office)
912 Stellar-Chance Bldg (Lab)
422 Curie Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6059

Office tel.: 215 898-5039
Lab tel.: 215 898-4476
Fax: 215 573-7058
E-mail: blackbe@mail.med.upenn.edu

Link(s)

Ben Black at the Dept. of Biochemistry and Biophysics

Education

Carleton College. BA (Biology), 1997

University of Virginia, PhD (Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics), 2002

University of California, San Diego. Postdoctoral Fellow, (Biochemistry and Cell Biology), 2002-2006

Research Interests

• Protein and protein/DNA complexes directing accurate chromosome segregation
  

Key words: Chromosome segregation; chromatin structure; epigenetic centromere specification; hydrogen/deuterium exchange.

Search PubMed for articles

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 function.

Recent Publications

Black, B.E., M.A. Brock, S. Bedard, V. L. Woods Jr., and D. W. Cleveland. 2007. An epigenetic mark generated by the incorporation of CENP-A into centromeric nucleosomes. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 104:5008-5013.

Jansen, L.E.T., B.E. Black, D.R. Foltz, and D. W. Cleveland. 2007. Propagation of centromeric chromatin requires exit from mitosis. J. Cell Biol., 176:795-805.

Black, B.E.*†, L.E.T. Jansen†, P.S. Maddox, D.R. Foltz, A.B. Desai, J.V. Shah, and D.W. Cleveland*. 2007. Centromere identity maintained by nucleosomes assembled with histone H3 containing the CENP-A targeting domain. Mol. Cell, 25:309-322. (*corresponding authors; †contributed equally)

Foltz, D.R., L.E.T. Jansen, B.E. Black, A.O. Bailey, J.R. Yates III, and D.W. Cleveland. 2006. The human CENP-A centromeric nucleosome-associated complex. Nat. Cell Biol, 8:458-469.

Black, B.E., D.R. Foltz, S. Chakravarthy, K. Luger, V.L. Woods Jr., and D.W. Cleveland. 2004. Structural determinants for generating centromeric chromatin. Nature 430:578-582.

Lab

Rotation Projects for 2006-2007

1. Reconstitution of cellular pathways used to establish and maintain centromere identity
2. Molecular analysis of essential components of centromeric chromatin
3. Hydrogen/deuterium exchange on proteins and supramolecular complexes directing accurate chromosome segregation

Lab personnel:

Stacey Wood - Technician
Sandya Ajith - Technician
Tanya Panchenko - Graduate Student
John Skinner - Graduate Student
Emily Bassett - Rotation Student
Fumin Shi - Rotation Student
Yoni Levinson - Undergraduate student