This proposal is focused on a fundamental question in genetics: How are chromosomes and the genes they carry appropriately segregated to the daughter cells at cell division? Defects in this process result in uneven partitioning of the genome that, in turn, causes aneuploidy. If this happens during gametogenesis, this type of genetic catastrophe results in spontaneous abortion or birth defects in resulting offspring. The gain or loss of an individual chromosome resulting from errors in mitotic cell division along with mutation of tumor suppressor genes or oncogenes contributes to early events in tumor formation and progression, and aneuploidy is a hallmark of almost all late stage tumors. The chromosomal element that controls its accurate segregation is the centromere. Molecular genetic and human patient data has defined centromere identity not by a particular DNA sequence, since centromeric ?-satellite repeats found at most normal centromeres are neither necessary nor sufficient to specify the location of a functioning centromere. Rather, the prevailing view is that centromere identity is defined epigenetically, and our long-term goal is to understand the basis for this epigenetic centromere mark and the mechanisms used for its establishment and maintenance. The leading candidate to represent the epigenetic mark is CENP-A, a histone H3 variant that assembles into nucleosomes at functional centromeres. Specific research in this proposal will address the following questions: How does CENP-A generate an epigenetic mark at the centromere? What impact does the incorporation of CENP-A into polynucleosome arrays have on their higher-order folding? Does the CENP-A-containing nucleosome directly recruit a specific set of centromere factors? Is there selective affinity of CENP-A for centromeric ?-satellite DNA? What is the mechanism for loading CENP-A onto centromeric DNA? What cellular proteins recognize CENP-A via its centromere targeting domain? Using a combination of biochemical reconstitution, biophysics, molecular genetics, and cell biology approaches we propose the following specific aims: 1. Determine the consequences of incorporation of CENP-A into centromeric nucleosomes 2. Define the requirements for CENP-A chromatin assembly at centromeres Together, these studies promise to provide valuable insight into the epigenetic mechanisms that specify and maintain the location of the centromere on the chromosome.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM082989-04
Application #
8079561
Study Section
Molecular Genetics B Study Section (MGB)
Program Officer
Carter, Anthony D
Project Start
2008-07-01
Project End
2013-06-30
Budget Start
2011-07-01
Budget End
2012-06-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$298,497
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pennsylvania
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
042250712
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104
Han, Joseph; Lachance, Catherine; Ricketts, M Daniel et al. (2018) The scaffolding protein JADE1 physically links the acetyltransferase subunit HBO1 with its histone H3-H4 substrate. J Biol Chem 293:4498-4509
Zasadzi?ska, Ewelina; Huang, Jiehuan; Bailey, Aaron O et al. (2018) Inheritance of CENP-A Nucleosomes during DNA Replication Requires HJURP. Dev Cell 47:348-362.e7
Iwata-Otsubo, Aiko; Dawicki-McKenna, Jennine M; Akera, Takashi et al. (2017) Expanded Satellite Repeats Amplify a Discrete CENP-A Nucleosome Assembly Site on Chromosomes that Drive in Female Meiosis. Curr Biol 27:2365-2373.e8
Fachinetti, Daniele; Logsdon, Glennis A; Abdullah, Amira et al. (2017) CENP-A Modifications on Ser68 and Lys124 Are Dispensable for Establishment, Maintenance, and Long-Term Function of Human Centromeres. Dev Cell 40:104-113
Guo, Lucie Y; Allu, Praveen Kumar; Zandarashvili, Levani et al. (2017) Centromeres are maintained by fastening CENP-A to DNA and directing an arginine anchor-dependent nucleosome transition. Nat Commun 8:15775
Stankovic, Ana; Guo, Lucie Y; Mata, João F et al. (2017) A Dual Inhibitory Mechanism Sufficient to Maintain Cell-Cycle-Restricted CENP-A Assembly. Mol Cell 65:231-246
Nechemia-Arbely, Yael; Fachinetti, Daniele; Miga, Karen H et al. (2017) Human centromeric CENP-A chromatin is a homotypic, octameric nucleosome at all cell cycle points. J Cell Biol 216:607-621
Lampson, Michael A; Black, Ben E (2017) Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Centromere Drive. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol 82:249-257
Sekulic, N; Black, B E (2016) Preparation of Recombinant Centromeric Nucleosomes and Formation of Complexes with Nonhistone Centromere Proteins. Methods Enzymol 573:67-96
Avgousti, Daphne C; Herrmann, Christin; Kulej, Katarzyna et al. (2016) A core viral protein binds host nucleosomes to sequester immune danger signals. Nature 535:173-7

Showing the most recent 10 out of 42 publications