Gregory P. Copenhaver

About

Gregory P. Copenhaver is a Chancellor's Eminent Professor of Convergent Science, Director of the Institute for Convergent Science, and Associate Provost for CoC and EPAP at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research focuses on understanding how genomes function, with particular emphasis on the constituent parts of a genome, such as chromosomes, and the dynamic processes that influence them. His laboratory primarily uses the model flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana to investigate fundamental biological principles, benefiting from its small, fully sequenced genome, ease of genetic, cytological, and biochemical experimentation, and widespread natural variation. Copenhaver's research interests include the regulation of meiotic recombination at the genomic level in higher eukaryotes. His work aims to elucidate the molecular components governing recombination in complex multicellular organisms, which is less understood compared to lower eukaryotes like yeast. His studies also explore the role of centromere DNA in chromosome biology, focusing on defining the DNA within the genetically characterized centromeres of Arabidopsis. His research contributes to understanding human disease genes and offers tools for agricultural bioengineering.

Research topics

• Biology
• Genetics
• Computer Science
• Cell biology
• Mathematics

Selected publications

• The cohesin loader SCC2 contains a PHD finger that is required for meiosis in land plants

  PLoS Genetics · 2020 · 30 citations

  Cohesin, a multisubunit protein complex, is required for holding sister chromatids together during mitosis and meiosis. The recruitment of cohesin by the sister chromatid cohesion 2/4 (SCC2/4) complex has been extensively studied in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitosis, but its role in mitosis and meiosis remains poorly understood in multicellular organisms, because complete loss-of-function of either gene causes embryonic lethality. Here, we identified a weak allele of Atscc2 (Atscc2-5) that has on…

  DOI

• Regulation of interference-sensitive crossover distribution ensures crossover assurance in <i>Arabidopsis</i>

  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2021 · 28 citations

  Together, these results reveal that although AtFANCD2, AtFANCM, AtFIGL1, and AtRMI1 regulate Class II CO frequency by distinct mechanisms, they have similar roles in controlling the distribution of Class I COs among chromosomes.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• HEI10 is subject to phase separation and mediates RPA1a degradation during meiotic interference-sensitive crossover formation

  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2023-12-22 · 16 citations

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  Reciprocal exchanges of DNA between homologous chromosomes during meiosis, or crossovers (COs), shuffle genetic information in gametes and progeny. In many eukaryotes, the majority of COs (class I COs) are sensitive to a phenomenon called interference, which influences the occurrence of closely spaced double COs. Class I COs depend on a group of factors called ZMM (Zip, Msh, Mer) proteins including HEI10 (Human Enhancer of Invasion-10). However, how these proteins are recruited to class I CO sit…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• DNA polymerase epsilon binds histone H3.1-H4 and recruits MORC1 to mediate meiotic heterochromatin condensation

  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2022-10-19 · 15 citations

  articleOpen access

  Heterochromatin is essential for genomic integrity and stability in eukaryotes. The mechanisms that regulate meiotic heterochromatin formation remain largely undefined. Here, we show that the catalytic subunit (POL2A) of Arabidopsis DNA polymerase epsilon (POL ε) is required for proper formation of meiotic heterochromatin. The POL2A N terminus interacts with the GHKL adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) MORC1 (Microrchidia 1), and POL2A is required for MORC1’s localization on meiotic heterochromati…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• SCFRMF mediates degradation of the meiosis-specific recombinase DMC1

  Nature Communications · 2023-08-19 · 12 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Meiotic recombination requires the specific RecA homolog DMC1 recombinase to stabilize strand exchange intermediates in most eukaryotes. Normal DMC1 levels are crucial for its function, yet the regulatory mechanisms of DMC1 stability are unknown in any organism. Here, we show that the degradation of Arabidopsis DMC1 by the 26S proteasome depends on F-box proteins RMF1/2-mediated ubiquitination. Furthermore, RMF1/2 interact with the Skp1 ortholog ASK1 to form the ubiquitin ligase complex…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• An Integrative Analysis of Gene Conversion

  NSF · $619k · 2006–2010

• BTT EAGER: Investigating Genetic, Epigenetic and Environmental Control of Meiotic Recombination using Fluorescent Crossover Reporters in Tomato

  NSF · $300k · 2019–2022

• Identifying and Characterizing Genetic Interactors of DMC1

  NSF · $621k · 2011–2016

Frequent coauthors

• Yingxiang Wang

  Key Laboratory of Guangdong Province

  104 shared

• Hong Mā

  Lanzhou University of Technology

  57 shared

• Jiyue Huang

  South China Agricultural University

  57 shared

• Cong Wang

  44 shared

• Hongkuan Wang

  Van Andel Institute

  36 shared

• Luke E. Berchowitz

  Columbia University

  23 shared

• Daphne Preuss

  University of Chicago

  19 shared

• Zhihao Cheng

  Tianjin University

  17 shared

Education

• Postdoctoral Researcher, Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology

  University of Chicago

  2001

• Ph.D., Biology and Biomedical Sciences

  Washington University in Saint Louis

  1996

• B.S., Botany

  University of California Riverside

  1990

Similar researchers at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• John Brunoh-74
• Robert J. Duronioh-62
• Victoria L. Bautchh-51