Congrats to lead author and Hehnly Lab graduate student Abrar (Abbi) Aljiboury on the acceptance of her study titled “Pericentriolar matrix (PCM) integrity relies on cenexin and Polo-Like Kinase (PLK)1” at Molecular Biology of the Cell. This work was a collaborative study between Hehnly Lab post baccalaureates Amra Mujcic and Erin Curtis, undergraduates Denise Magny and Thomas Cammerino, graduate student Yiling Lan, the Blatt imaging center manager Mike Bates, Hehnly Lab manager Judy Freshour, and Biology faculty member Yasir Ahmed-Braimeh. This study examined PLK1 activity and its association with maintaining the functional and physical properties of the centrosome's pericentriolar matrix (PCM). Here, Abbi and colleagues use a multimodal approach of human cells (HeLa), zebrafish embryos, and phylogenic analysis to test the role of a PLK1 binding protein, cenexin, in regulating the PCM. Their studies identify that cenexin is required for tempering microtubule nucleation by maintaining PCM cohesion in a PLK1 dependent manner. PCM architecture in cenexin-depleted zebrafish embryos was rescued with wild-type human cenexin, but not with a C-terminal cenexin mutant (S796A) deficient in PLK1 binding. They propose a model where cenexin's C-terminus acts in a conserved manner in eukaryotes, excluding nematodes and arthropods, to sequester PLK1 that limits PCM substrate phosphorylation events required for PCM cohesion.
Heidi Hehnly awarded James K. Dual-Agyeman Award for Outstanding Faculty
It was humbling to be awarded by the Center for Academic Achievement and Student Development, which houses Higher Ed Opportunity Program, Student Support Services, McNair Scholars Program, the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program, and the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, the James K. Dual-Agyeman Award for Outstanding Faculty. The award is given in recognition of outstanding faculty and staff of the Syracuse and campus community who fully embrace the mission and vision of CAASD through collaborative programming initiatives and service. Much like the individual for whom the award is named, recipients are chosen who demonstrate their commitment to the development, training, and preparation of the next generation of university scholars.
It is a pleasure to work with the next generation of scientists and I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to do so.
Congrats to Denise Magny and Eric Ingram on their Graduation Weekend!
Congrats to Denise Magny, who is receiving her B.S. today and Eric Ingram who is formally receiving his masters today at Convocation and Commencement. It’s been a pleasure having both of you in the lab. I can’t wait to see all that you do!
Chimera, an Art Opening at Syracuse University, and presenting at CNY Zebrafish Meeting
The Hehnly Lab had an eventful weekend that kicked off with the opening of Chimera, a menagerie of Art/Bio studies from Bio and Art students along with professional artists that ended with a juxtaposition of Microscopic Micrographs, Murals, and Illustrations filling Shaffer Hall. The BioArt Class and subsequent art show, Chimera, was a labor of love from Hehnly lab members Nikhila Kirshnan, Debadrita Pal, Abrar Aljiboury, Mike Bates, and Favour Ononiwu who worked closely with BioArt students. The class was co-taught by Heidi Hehnly (Biology) and resident Artist in the Hehnly Lab, Boryana Rossa, who is an Associate Professor in The School of Visual and Performing Arts.
The Lab also attended the CNY Zebrafish conference where Debadrita Pal (Hehnly Lab Postdoc) and Nikhila Krishnan (Hehnly Lab Senior Grad Student) presented their work orally. Yan Wu (Hehnly Lab Postdoc) and Jonah Da Silva presented their work in the form of posters, and Favour Ononiwu attended. Congrats to everyone that presented.
Below is a series of photos documenting both events.