Human Centromeres - Epigenetics, Genome Stability and Cancer
Yael Nechemia-Arbely Lab
Now recruiting!!
OUR RESEARCH
Failure of normal chromosome delivery have broad medical implications, including infertility and birth defects. Moreover, many human tumors have abnormal numbers of chromosomes, a condition known as aneuploidy.
The centromere is a central genetic element responsible for accurate chromosome segregation during cell division. Therefore, identification of the initial events driving mammalian centromere assembly, as well as the mechanisms required for centromere maintenance and propagation, is of high biological relevance given its broad effects on infertility and tumor development.
Paradoxically, centromeres are neither defined by DNA sequences nor conserved among species. Rather, functional centromeres are specified through the stable acquisition of an epigenetic mark, named CENP-A, a histone H3 variant found exclusively in nucleosomes at all active centromeres. CENP-A-containing chromatin underlies the mitotic kinetochore, the proteinaceous complex that mediates the physical connection between each chromosome to spindle microtubules.
The nature and composition of centromeric chromatin across the cell cycle
Using a combination of approaches we defined the nature of centromeric chromatin, resolving a longstanding debate in centromere biology. Using new reference models for 23 human centromeres we directly demonstrated that the overwhelming majority of centromeric DNAs are assembled with histone H3.1-containing nucleosomes and that human CENP-A chromatin is an octameric nucleosome, with two molecules of CENP-A, across the entire cell cycle with no oscillation between hemisomes to octameric nucleosomes (as suggested by others) but with unwinding of the nucleosomal DNA at entry/exit. This evidence refutes models for hemisomes that may briefly transition to octameric nucleosomes.
CENP-A chromatin is an octameric nucleosome with transient DNA unwrapping. (A) Main proposals for CENP-A containing chromatin particles. (B) CENP-A-bound DNA sequences were analyzed for their nucleosomal DNA length across the cell cycle by microcapillary electrophoresis.
Centromere-bound CENP-A is maintained with high precision throughout DNA replication
The 3-4% of α-satellite centromeric chromatin that contain CENP-A is precisely recycled to daughter centromeres during DNA replication. This maintenance of centromere-bound CENP-A through DNA replication requires CENP-C and the CCAN complex it nucleates. Thus, centromeric CENP-A is retained at the same centromeric sites with precision through DNA replication, leading to epigenetic maintenance of human centromeres.
CENP-A ChIP-seq identifies CENP-A binding at reference centromeres of 23 human chromosomes. (A) CENP-A ChIP-seq shows CENP-A binding peaks at the centromere of chromosome 8 for before and after DNA replication. CENP-A is precisely maintained at human centromeres during DNA replication. (B) High-resolution view of read mapping to a site that is single copy in the centromere reference model of chromosome 2, after filtering out multimapping reads.
We are interested in understanding:
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The relationship between CENP-A, CENP-C and CENP-T DNA binding at human centromeres across the cell cycle, to create an epigenomic landscape of centromeric chromatin across the cell cycle.
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The positional stability of human centromeres throughout cellular proliferation. Is CENP-A capable of precisely and stably specifying centromere position across a single cell cycle or throughout cellular proliferation?
DNA replication restricts CENP-A to centromeres and corrects errors in CENP-A deposition
CENP-A is diluted every S-phase and is replenished only half a cell cycle after at exit of mitosis. this raises the question of how centromeres are specified, maintained, and propagated across the cell cycle. Using CENP-A ChIP-sequencing combined with Repli-seq (replication timing sequencing) and genome-wide mapping onto unique centromere reference models, we discovered that while CENP-A is loaded onto centromeres at mitotic exit, CENP-A is also ectopically loaded outside of the centromeres. We identified a DNA replication-dependent error correction mechanism that acts in S-phase to remove ectopically loaded CENP-A.
In parallel to removal of CENP-A from ectopic sites, positions of centromere-bound CENP-A are maintained with high precision throughout DNA replication, in a mechanism that requires CENP-C and the CCAN complex it nucleates.
Thus, DNA replication serves as an error correction mechanism that restricts CENP-A to centromeres by removing it from ectopic sites of deposition at the chromosome arms. This error correction mechanism explains how centromere identity is epigenetically maintained and restricted to one position on the chromosome.
We now seek to determine the consequences of ectopic CENP-A deposition in human cells, particularly in cancer cells, and whether the error correction mechanism of ectopic CENP-A is disrupted in cancer cells.
We thank the NIGMS and Pitt Office of Research for funding our research!
PUBLICATIONS
Megan A Mahlke, Lior Lumerman, Peter Ly, Yael Nechemia-Arbely
Life Science Alliance. Jan 3 (2023)
Chromothripsis drives the evolution of gene amplification in cancer
Shoshani O, Brunner SF, Yaeger R, Ly P, Nechemia-Arbely Y, Kim DH, Fang R, Castillon GA, Yu M, Li JSZ, Sun Y, Ellisman MH, Ren B, Campbell PJ, Cleveland DW
Nature. Dec 23 (2020)
Guarding the Genome: CENP-A-Chromatin in Health and Cancer
Mahlke MA, Nechemia-Arbely Y
Genes (Basel). Jul 16;11(7):810 (2020)
Nechemia-Arbely Y, Miga KH, Shoshani O, Aslanian A, McMahon MA, Lee AY, Fachinetti D, Yates III JR, Ren B and Cleveland DW
Nature Cell Biology 21(6):743-754 (2019)
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Nature Cell Biology News and Views: Centromere maintenance during DNA replication
Phosphorylation of CENP-A on serine 7 does not control centromere function
Barra V, Logsdon GA, Scelfo A, Hoffmann S, Hervé S, Aslanian A, Nechemia-Arbely Y, Cleveland DW, Black BE, Fachinetti D
Nature Communication 11;10(1):175 (2019)
Nechemia-Arbely Y, Fachinetti D, Miga KH, Sekulic N, Soni GV, Wong AK, Lee AY, Nguyen K, Dekker C, Ren B, Black BE, Cleveland DW
Journal of Cell Biology 6;216(3):607-621 (2017)
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Journal of Cell Biology Special Focus: Genome Stability, Special Collection: Nuclear Organization and Function
Lanton T, Shriki A, Nechemia-Arbely Y, Abramovitch R, Levkovitch O, Adar R, Paldor M, Goldenberg D, Sonnenblick A, Peled A, Rose-John S, Galun E, Axelrod HJ
Hepatology 65(5):1600-1611 (2017)
CENP-A Is Dispensable for Mitotic Centromere Function after Initial Centromere/Kinetochore Assembly
Hoffmann S, Dumont M, Ly P, Nechemia-Arbely Y, McMahon MA, Cleveland DW, Fachinetti D
Cell Reports 22;17(9):2394-2404 (2016)
A two-step mechanism for epigenetic specification of centromere identity and function
Fachinetti D, Folco D, Nechemia-Arbely Y, Valente L, Nguyen K, Zou Q, Holland AJ, Verma IM, Desai A, Jansen LET, Cleveland DW
Nature Cell Biology 15(9):1056-66 (2013)
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Nature Cell Biology News and Views: Swapping CENP-A at the centromere
Replicating centromeric chromatin: spatial and temporal control of CENP-A assembly
Nechemia-Arbely Y, Fachinetti D, Cleveland DW
Experimental Cell Research 15;318(12):1353-60 (2012)
GROUP MEMBERS
Yael Nechemia-Arbely Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology
Yael earned her doctorate in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. She worked with Jonathan Axelrod and Eithan Galun to investigate the role of IL-6 in regeneration of the kidney and liver following injury. During her PhD she became interested in one of the most universal and fascinating processes in cell biology - Mitosis. This led her to pursue postdoctoral training in the US with Don Cleveland at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and UCSD School of Medicine, where she investigated human centromeres – a chromosomal region that is essential for mitosis. After enjoying sunny San Diego, Yael moved to University of Pittsburgh at the end of 2018 to open her independent group at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and the Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology. Beyond science, she loves arts and crafts and exploring the nature while hiking with her family.
Lior Lumerman M.Sc.
Lab Manager and Research Specialist
lumermanl@upmc.edu
Lior received her M.Sc. in Molecular Biology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. She moved to University of Pittsburgh and joined the lab at the end of 2019 as a research specialist and lab manager. She is helping the lab in all things centromeres related! She loves good coffee and traveling around the world.
Angela Enriquez
Graduate Student
ame149@pitt.edu
Angela is a graduate student in the Integrative Systems Biology program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She received her B.S in biological sciences with a minor in chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh. Angela joined the lab in 2024 with an interest in applying bioinformatic techniques to unravel the epigenetic mechanisms and maintenance of human centromeres. She is also interested in studying the role of centromere and kinetochore proteins in post-mitotic cells such as neurons and cardiomyocytes. She enjoys reading, baking, and exploring the city for good tea shops!
Megan Mahlke Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Associate
mahlkem@upmc.edu
Megan received her Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from University of Texas at San Antonio, where she studied the epigenetics of human and non-human primate stem cells. Megan joined the lab in 2019 with a desire to apply her knowledge of epigenetics and bioinformatics to understanding regulation of centromere function, and in particular, the role of the histone H3 centromere variant CENP-A. She enjoys watching and collecting horror movies, live music, and going on adventures outdoors with her family.
Poulomi Nath Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Associate
nathp3@upmc.edu
Poulomi received her Ph.D. in molecular endocrinology and reproduction from Visva-Bharati University, India. During her Ph.D. she worked on signaling mechanisms in regulation of meiotic cell-cycle progression in oocyte models. Poulomi joined the lab in 2020 with an interest in understanding the human centromere function during cell-cycle progression and in cancer. She is always happy to help, enjoys watching movies, cooking new foods with Indian touch, traveling and occasionally singing.
Zachary Kovach
Graduate Student
zjk19@pitt.edu
Zachary is a graduate student in the Department of Human Genetics at Pitt. He is from Ellettsville, Indiana, and after graduating from Indiana University with a degree in biology with a concentration in cell biology and molecular genetics, he decided to pursue an advanced education focusing on human genetics. Zach joined the YNA Lab after becoming interested in genome organization, chromatin structure, and epigenetics. He hopes that the findings uncovered concerning CENP-A’s role in maintaining genome stability and replicative fidelity will allow for the discovery of novel pharmacological targets in cancer therapeutics. Outside of the lab, Zach enjoys watching sports, reading classic literature, and learning foreign language.
Past Lab Members
Kylie Zaffina
Lab Technician
Shaoyang Yan
Visiting scholar
Marlene Taja-Moreno M.Sc
Lab Technician
Rebecca Raphael M.Sc
Lab Technician
NEWS
October 2021
Sooo excited to receive the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center 2021 Junior Scholar award for Basic Cancer Research
July 2021
Extremely happy and proud to share that we are getting funded by the NIGMS R35 ESI MIRA award!
Celebrating with some sushi (over TSDC seminar) and Champagne:
We are looking for postdocs, please apply!
June 2021
Wonderful presentation of Megan at the GSP Virtual Mini-symposium!
June 2021
Happy Birthday Poulomi!
June 2021
Watching together the TSDC seminar series
June 2021
Celebrating with the lab, as Yael receives the Pitt CMRF pilot award!
May 2021
Happy birthday Megan!
April 2021
We've been missing our in person meetings!! So good to be back!
February 2021
Welcome back Megan and congrats on your baby!!
November 2020
Poulomi Nath joins our lab as a postdoc. Welcome Poulomi!
August 2020
Saying goodbye to Marlene who is leaving us to start her PhD in Mexico. Good luck Marlene!
July 2020
Yael is chairing a session of The Socially Distant Centromere, an online seminar series organized by GRC Centromere Biology Conference chairs
June 2020
Megan’s review linking CENP-A to cancer is published in Genes!
March – June 2020
Very sad to see our lab is shut down due to Covid-19.
January 2020
Megan Mahlke joins the lab as a postdoctoral fellow. Welcome Megan!
December 2019
Yael presents at the UPMC Hillman Genome Stability Chromatin Club mini symposium
December 2019
Marlene Taja-Moreno joins the lab as a research technician. Welcome Marlene!
November 2019
Lior Lumerman joins the lab as the lab manager. Welcome Lior!
August 2019
Yael visits at the Hospital of Sick Kids Research Institute, Toronto, and present at their Cell Biology seminar series
July 2019
Yael visits Israel and presents at Tel Aviv University and at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
June 2019
Our paper revealing an error correction mechanism that restricts CENP-A to centromeres is published in Nature Cell Biology!
June 2019
Yael is awarded 2019 Hillman Early-Career Fellow for Innovative Cancer Research
May 2019
Becky joins the lab as a lab technician. Welcome Becky!
December 2018
The lab has officially opened at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center!
JOIN OUR TEAM
Postdoctoral Fellows
We are always looking for great scientists to join our group. Individuals with a strong background in cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, microscopy, and/or computational genomics are encouraged to apply. Candidates are invited to submit a CV, contact information for 3 references and a cover letter describing research interests and career goals. Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in a relevant scientific area before starting the position and show significant promise for leading an independent research project, including outstanding publications in peer-reviewed journals and/or pre-prints.
Graduate Students
We are part of the Molecular Pharmacology Graduate Program (MPGP) Ph.D. training program within the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Interdisciplinary Biomedical Graduate Program. Currently enrolled students who are interested in pursuing a rotation in our lab should contact Yael.
Please direct all applications and inquiries via email to Dr. Yael Nechemia-Arbely at arbelyy@upmc.edu
GET IN TOUCH
Dr. Yael Nechemia-Arbely
Assistant Professor
University of Pittsburgh
School of Medicine
Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology
Phone: 412-623-3228
Email: arbelyy@upmc.edu
Social media:
5117 Centre Avenue
Pittsburgh,
PA 15213
Office: 2.32d
Lab: 2.6
