Michael Held

Michael Held is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Ohio University's College of Arts and Sciences, where he leads an active research program focused on plant cell wall biochemistry. His work integrates molecular, biochemical, and biophysical approaches to understand the regulation and assembly of plant cell walls, with a particular emphasis on extensin glycoproteins and post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms.

His educational background includes a Ph.D. and B.S. from Ohio University, followed by postdoctoral training at Michigan State University and Purdue University, establishing a strong foundation in plant molecular biology and biochemistry.

Held's research centers on two major areas: (1) the self-assembly of plant cell wall polymers, particularly the role of extensins as structural scaffolds, and (2) the post-transcriptional regulation of cell wall biosynthesis via small RNAs derived from cellulose synthase antisense transcripts. His lab employs advanced techniques such as small RNA next-generation sequencing (sRNA-NGS), bioinformatics, and biophysical assays to uncover novel regulatory networks in plant development.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in plant glycobiology, with a focus on arabinogalactan-proteins, glycosyltransferases, and gene co-expression networks. His development of PlantNexus, a database for barley and sorghum, reflects his commitment to open science and interdisciplinary collaboration in plant genomics.

• Specific protein interactions between rice members of the GT43 and GT47 families to form various central cores of putative xylan synthase complexes (2024)
• Knockout of eight hydroxyproline-O-galactosyltransferases cause multiple vegetative and reproductive growth defects (2023)
• PlantNexus: A Gene Co-expression Network Database and Visualization Tool for Barley and Sorghum (2022)
• Functional characterization of hydroxyproline-galactosyltransferases for Arabidopsis arabinogalactan-proteins synthesis (2021)
• Extensins: Self-assembly, crosslinking, and the role of peroxidases (2021)

Dr. Held actively mentors students and collaborates with researchers across institutions, contributing to projects involving CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, mass spectrometry for glycan detection, and the functional characterization of glycosyltransferases. His lab has received support for research in plant wall biosynthesis, though specific grants are not detailed in the text. He is a key contributor to the PlantNexus initiative, which provides valuable tools for plant biologists studying barley and sorghum.

The Held Lab is located at the Biochemistry Research Facility, 350 W. State St., Athens Campus, and maintains a research focus on uncovering the molecular mechanisms governing plant cell wall integrity, development, and function. The lab combines classical biochemical methods with modern genomics and bioinformatics to address fundamental questions in plant biology.