Michael Axtell

Professor of Biology; Louis and Hedwig Sternberg Chair in Plant Biology

Michael Axtell

Research Summary

Discovery and characterization of plant microRNAs and siRNAs. Functions of microRNAs and siRNAs in the evolution of plant development. Genomics and bioinformatics of microRNAs, siRNAs, and their targets

Huck Graduate Students

Huck Affiliations

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Publication Tags

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Rna Micrornas Microrna Small Interfering Rna Genes Parasitic Plants Methylation Epigenomics Transgenes Messenger Rna Phenotype Genome Plant Rna Growth Lycopersicon Esculentum Parasites Virulence Tobacco Nicotiana Benthamiana Indoleacetic Acids Transplants Pests Quality Control Nucleotides Gene Expression

Most Recent Publications

Trans-Species Mobility of RNA Interference between Plants and Associated Organisms

Ya Chi Nien, Allison Vanek, Michael J. Axtell, 2024, Plant and Cell Physiology on p. 694-703

Trans-species microRNA loci in the parasitic plant Cuscuta campestris have a U6-like snRNA promoter

Collin Hudzik, Sean Maguire, Shengxi Guan, Jeremy Held, Michael J. Axtell, 2023, Plant Cell on p. 1834-1847

Focus on RNA biology

Nancy A. Eckardt, Michael J. Axtell, Andrea Barta, Xuemei Chen, Brian D. Gregory, Hongwei Guo, Pablo A. Manavella, Rebecca A. Mosher, Blake C. Meyers, 2023, Plant Cell on p. 1617-1618

Quality control and evaluation of plant epigenomics data

Robert J. Schmitz, Alexandre P. Marand, Xuan Zhang, Rebecca A. Mosher, Franziska Turck, Xuemei Chen, Michael J. Axtell, Xuehua Zhong, Siobhan M. Brady, Molly Megraw, Blake C. Meyers, 2022, Plant Cell on p. 503-513

Expression and processing of polycistronic artificial microRNAs and trans-acting siRNAs from transiently introduced transgenes in Solanum lycopersicum and Nicotiana benthamiana

Alice Lunardon, Samwel Muiruri Kariuki, Michael J. Axtell, 2021, Plant Journal on p. 1087-1104

Mechanisms of resistance and virulence in parasitic plant-host interactions

Markus Albert, Michael Axtell, Michael P. Timko, 2020, Plant Physiology on p. 1282-1291

Segregation of an MSH1 RNAi transgene produces heritable non-genetic memory in association with methylome reprogramming

Xiaodong Yang, Robersy Sanchez, Hardik Kundariya, Tom Maher, Isaac Dopp, Rosemary Schwegel, Kamaldeep Virdi, Michael J. Axtell, Sally A. Mackenzie, 2020, Nature Communications

Exchange of small regulatory rnas between plants and their pests

Collin Hudzik, Yingnan Hou, Wenbo Ma, Michael J. Axtell, 2020, Plant Physiology on p. 51-62

MSH1-induced heritable enhanced growth vigor through grafting is associated with the RdDM pathway in plants

Haridik Kundariya, Xiaodong Yang, Kyla Morton, R Sanchez Rodriguez, Robersy Sanchez, Michael J. Axtell, Samuel Hutton, Michael Fromm, Sally A. Mackenzie, 2020, Nature Communications on p. 5345

Integrated annotations and analyses of small RNA-producing loci from 47 diverse plants

Alice Lunardon, Nathan R. Johnson, Emily Hagerott, Tamia Phifer, Seth Polydore, Ceyda Coruh, Michael J. Axtell, 2020, Genome Research on p. 497-513

Most-Cited Papers

Revisiting criteria for plant microRNA annotation in the Era of big data

Michael Axtell, Blake Meyers, 2018, Plant Cell on p. 272-284

MicroRNAs from the parasitic plant Cuscuta campestris target host messenger RNAs

Saima Shahid, Gunjune Kim, Nathan R. Johnson, Eric Wafula, Feng Wang, Ceyda Coruh, Vivian Bernal-Galeano, Tamia Phifer, Claude W. Depamphilis, James H. Westwood, Michael J. Axtell, 2018, Nature on p. 82-85

Improved placement of multi-mapping small RNAs

Nathan R. Johnson, Jonathan M. Yeoh, Ceyda Coruh, Michael J. Axtell, 2016, G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics on p. 2103-2111

Analysis of complementarity requirements for plant MicroRNA targeting using a Nicotiana benthamiana quantitative transient assay

Qikun Liu, Feng Wang, Michael J. Axtell, 2014, Plant Cell on p. 741-753

A non-canonical plant microRNA target site

Cécile Brousse, Qikun Liu, Linda Beauclair, Aurélie Deremetz, Michael J. Axtell, Nicolas Bouché, 2014, Nucleic Acids Research on p. 5270-5279

Molecular Dialog between Parasitic Plants and Their Hosts

Christopher R. Clarke, Michael P. Timko, John I. Yoder, Michael J. Axtell, James H. Westwood, 2019, Annual Review of Phytopathology on p. 279-299

Convergent horizontal gene transfer and cross-talk of mobile nucleic acids in parasitic plants

Zhenzhen Yang, Eric K. Wafula, Gunjune Kim, Saima Shahid, Joel R. McNeal, Paula E. Ralph, Prakash R. Timilsena, Wen bin Yu, Elizabeth A. Kelly, Huiting Zhang, Thomas Nate Person, Naomi S. Altman, Michael J. Axtell, James H. Westwood, Claude W. dePamphilis, 2019, Nature Plants on p. 991-1001

Exchange of small regulatory rnas between plants and their pests

Collin Hudzik, Yingnan Hou, Wenbo Ma, Michael J. Axtell, 2020, Plant Physiology on p. 51-62

Integrated annotations and analyses of small RNA-producing loci from 47 diverse plants

Alice Lunardon, Nathan R. Johnson, Emily Hagerott, Tamia Phifer, Seth Polydore, Ceyda Coruh, Michael J. Axtell, 2020, Genome Research on p. 497-513

MSH1-induced heritable enhanced growth vigor through grafting is associated with the RdDM pathway in plants

Haridik Kundariya, Xiaodong Yang, Kyla Morton, R Sanchez Rodriguez, Robersy Sanchez, Michael J. Axtell, Samuel Hutton, Michael Fromm, Sally A. Mackenzie, 2020, Nature Communications on p. 5345

News Articles Featuring Michael Axtell

Mar 21, 2023

Penn State biologist to present free public lecture on MicroRNAs in plants

Michael J. Axtell, the Louis and Hedwig Sternberg Chair in Plant Biology and distinguished professor of biology, will present the inaugural Louis and Hedwig Sternberg Chair in Plant Biology Lecture at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, March 27, at the Hintz Family Alumni Center on the Penn State University Park campus.

Full Article

Nov 14, 2022

Michael Axtell named Louis and Hedwig Sternberg Chair in Plant Biology

Michael Axtell, distinguished professor of biology at Penn State, has been named the Louis and Hedwig Sternberg Chair in Plant Biology in the Eberly College of Science.

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Feb 17, 2022

Penn State biologist Michael Axtell named distinguished professor

Michael Axtell, professor of biology at Penn State, has been selected to receive the title of distinguished professor of biology in recognition of his exceptional record of teaching, research, and service to the University community.

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Dec 17, 2019

Agricultural parasite avoids evolutionary arms race, shuts down genes of host

A parasitic plant has found a way to circumvent an evolutionary arms race with the host plants from which it steals nutrients, allowing the parasite to thrive on a variety of agriculturally important plants. The parasite dodder, an agricultural pest found on every continent, sends genetic material into its host to shut down host defense genes.

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Jul 24, 2019

Natural GMOs: Parasitic plants steal host DNA to siphon off needed resources

Some parasitic plants steal genetic material from their host plants and use the stolen genes to more effectively siphon off the host’s nutrients. A new study led by researchers at Penn State and Virginia Tech reveals that the parasitic plant dodder has stolen a large amount of genetic material from its hosts, including over 100 functional genes.

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Jul 22, 2019

Parasitic plants use stolen genes to make them better parasites

Some parasitic plants steal genetic material from their host plants and use the stolen genes to more effectively siphon off the host’s nutrients. A new study led by researchers at Penn State and Virginia Tech reveals that the parasitic plant dodder has stolen a large amount of genetic material from its hosts, including over 100 functional genes.

Full Article

Apr 02, 2019

Michael Axtell Among Five Receiving Faculty Scholar Medals

Five Penn State faculty members have received 2019 Faculty Scholar Medals for Outstanding Achievement for excellence in scholarship, research and the arts.

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