The plant cell wall biotechnology group studies the structure and function of plant cell wall components in hopes of exploiting this knowledge for the production of valuable biological products.
Our Faculty Researchers
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Ahmed FaikPlant Cell Wall BiochemistryHis laboratory investigates cell wall biology using Arabidopsis and wheat as models, including how plant cell wall polysaccharides and proteoglycans are synthesized, transported, and then integrated into the cell wall.
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Zhihua HuaUbiquitylation, Cross Talk of Gene Expression Regulatory PathwaysHis lab studies the roles of ubiquitylation in plant developmental and physiological processes through the integration of evolutionary and computational biology, plant omics, genetics, biochemistry, and molecular biology.
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Allan ShowalterMolecular Biology and Biochemistry of Plant Cell Wall ProteinsHis lab studies plant cell wall hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins as revealed by molecular biology and biochemical studies, with particular interest in the extensins, solanaceous lectins, and arabinogalactan-proteins.
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Sarah WyattPlant signaling especially as it relates to the response to gravityShe researches plant signaling especially as it relates to the response to gravity; and the use of genetic, genomic, proteomic and bioinformatic strategies to identify novel signaling components.
Recent Accomplishments
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OHIO students see their experiment taken by rocket to International Space Stati…A research experiment designed by Ohio University undergraduate students launched to the International Space Station
on Nov. 4, 2024, as the students watched the rocket blast off and take their experiment into space. -
Sarah Wyatt named Ohio University’s Distinguished ProfessorThe Distinguished Professor Award is the highest distinction for faculty members at Ohio University and was presented to Dr. Wyatt in recognition of her outstanding scholarly and creative accomplishments.
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Ahmed Faik Gets Award from OURC/Baker FundDr. Ahmed Faik was awarded a $14,900 Baker Fund grant for his work on "Identification of DNA Binding Sites of OsERF71, a Rice Transcription Factor that Positively Regulates Biomass Yield, and the Genes Regulated by its Action."
Current and Past Projects
- Arabinogalactan-proteins: structure, expression, and function (Showalter)
- Analysis of molecular determinants of gravitropism, using the microgravity environment (Wyatt)
- Characterization and cloning of the gps mutants of Arabidopsis (Wyatt)
- Characterizatio of the molecular determinants of the shift between floral dimorphism in Viola sp. (Wyatt and Ballard)
- Crystallization of hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins for structural determination by X-ray diffraction and three dimensional molecular modeling (Kieliszewski)
- Glycosylation site mapping of hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (Kieliszewski)
- Isolation and characterization of tomato arabinogalactan-protein and extensin genes (Showalter)
- Molecular interactions and cross-linking of hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (Kieliszewski)
- Molecular interactions and functions of LeAGP-1, a modular plasma membrane arabinogalactan-protein (Showalter and Kieliszewski)
- Production and characterization of arabinogalactan-protein mutants in Arabidopsis and tomato using antisense and RNAi technology (Showalter)
- Programmed cell death in plants and the role of arabinogalactan-proteins in this process (Showalter)
- Structure and function of a novel, modular arabinogalactan-protein from tomato (Showalter and Kieliszewski)
- Synthetic genes for de novo glycoprotein design and the elucidation of hydroxyproline-O-glycosylation codes (Kieliszewski)
External Funding Sources
- American Society for Gravitational and Space Biology
- National Science Foundation
- Ohio Board of Regents
- Ohio Plant Biotechnology Consortium
- U.S. Department of Agriculture