Black Lab
Principal Investigator: Ben E. Black
Institution: University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)
Primary Subfield: Molecular & Cell Bio
Recruitment Status: Inquire for rotation/fellowship opportunities
Research Focus
The mammalian artificial chromosome (MAC) Core will support the overall Project, which seeks to address the downstream consequences in cells and animals of DNA damage, the causes and consequences of chromosome missegregation at cell division, and the mechanisms that drive these processes in tumors. It will serve as a foundry for MACs that will support each of the individual projects that require chromosome manipulations and engineering: from site-directed and inducible DNA damage, to reporters for chromosome segregation errors, to housing the genetically encoded components of a chemical genetics toolbox. MACs can carry large (i.e. 100-2000 kb) genetic payloads, and exist in cells as molecules that are propagated and inherited alongside the natural chromosomes. Their autonomous nature is a key advantage, since they deliver their genetic payloads without insertion or other disruption of the host genome. The Core will employ our recent innovations in MAC technology that gave rise to a new generation of MAC templates in which we direct the seeding of centromeric chromatin. This approach permits efficient MAC formation on diverse DNA templates. The Core will undertake MAC approaches fro…
Active NIH Awards
- 5P01CA265794-04: Core 2: Mammalian Artificial Chromosome (MAC) (2026)
- 5R01CA259037-05: Tuning PARP-1 retention and release on DNA breaks (2026)
- 5R35GM130302-07: Centromere identity, strength, and regulation (2026)
- 3R01CA259037-05S1: Tuning PARP-1 retention and release on DNA breaks (2026)
- 3R01CA259037-04S1: Tuning PARP-1 retention and release on DNA breaks (2025)
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