Joshua Heyza, Ph.D.
Address
IBio Building Office 2129Office address
Wayne State University School of Medicine
6135 Woodward Ave.
Office 2129
Detroit, MI 48202
Department
Pharmacology
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Laboratory web site
www.jheyzalab.com/
https://pharmacology.med.wayne.edu/profile/fo4204
Research interests
• DNA double-strand break repair
• Mitotic DNA repair mechanisms
• RNA:DNA hybrids and replication-transcription conflicts
• Developing innovative genetic and imaging tools to study genome stability
Research description
When cells encounter DNA damage, they must respond rapidly and precisely to protect the integrity of their genome. InAt the Heyza Lab, we are uncovering how these essential repair processes operate in real time. Using cutting-edge tools like CRISPR-based endogenous tagging and live-cell single-molecule imaging, we overcome the challenges of studying low-abundance DNA repair proteins and fleeting molecular events. This enables us to visualize repair pathways as they unfold inside living cells — a major leap forward in understanding genome stability. Our research spans multiple DNA repair contexts, including mechanisms of DNA double-strand break repair in interphase and mitosis, replication stress responses, and the role of RNA:DNA hybrids in genome maintenance. Students joining our lab will gain experience in pioneering technologies and contribute to answering some of the most pressing questions in genome biology.
Recent publications
Heyza JR, Mikhova M, Perez GI, Broadbent DG, Schmidt JC. The PST repeat region of MDC1 is a tunable multivalent chromatin tethering domain. bioRxiv 2025;2025.01.10.632395.
Mashayekhi F, Ganje C, Caron MC, Heyza JR, Gao Y, Zeinali E, Fanta M, Li L, Ali J, Mersaoui SY, Schmidt JC, Godbout R, Masson JY, Weinfeld M, Ismail IH. PNKP safeguards stalled replication forks from nuclease-dependent degradation during replication stress. Cell Rep. 2024;43:115066.
Mikhova M, Goff NJ, Janovič T, Heyza JR, Meek K, Schmidt JC. Single-molecule imaging reveals the kinetics of non-homologous end-joining in living cells. Nat Commun. 2024;15:10159.
Heyza JR*, Mikhova M*, Schmidt JC. Live cell single-molecule imaging to study DNA repair in human cells. DNA Repair (Amst). 2023;129:103540. *Denotes co-first authors
Brambati A, Sacco O, Porcella S, Heyza J, Kareh M, Schmidt JC, Sfeir A. RHINO directs MMEJ to repair DNA breaks in mitosis. Science. 2023;381:653-60.
Heyza JR, Mikhova M, Bahl A, Broadbent DG, Schmidt JC. Systematic analysis of the molecular and biophysical properties of key DNA damage response factors. Elife. 2023;12:e87086.
Heyza JR, Ekinci E, Lindquist J, Lei W, Yunker C, Vinothkumar V, Rowbotham R, Polin L, Snider NG, Van Buren E, Watza D, Back JB, Chen W, Mamdani H, Schwartz AG, Turchi JJ, Bepler G, Patrick SM. ATR inhibition overcomes platinum tolerance associated with ERCC1- and p53-deficiency by inducing replication catastrophe. NAR Cancer. 2023;5:zcac045.
Heyza JR, Lei W, Watza D, Zhang H, Chen W, Back JB, Schwartz AG, Bepler G, Patrick SM. Identification and Characterization of Synthetic Viability with ERCC1 Deficiency in Response to Interstrand Crosslinks in Lung Cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2019;25:2523-36.
Education/training
B.S. 2014 University of Michigan, Flint, MI
Ph.D. 2019 Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
Postdoc 2019-2025 Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI