Recognizing Plant Cell authors: Markus Alahuhta

Markus Alahuhta, co-first author of Molecular mechanism of polysaccharide acetylation by the Arabidopsis xylan O-acetyltransferase XOAT1

Current Position: Research Scientist, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Education: Ph.D., Biochemistry, University of Oulu, Finland

Non-scientific Interests: PC gaming, camping, and hunting/hiking

Brief Bio: Biochemist specialized in macromolecular X-Ray crystallography, enzyme characterization/purification, lignocellulosic biomass deconstruction and cell-free enzymatic biocatalysis pathways. For my Ph.D. I worked with the engineering of triose phosphate isomerase at the University of Oulu, Finland. I did my post doc at the National Renewable Laboratory (NREL) in Colorado researching enzymes related to lignocellulosic biomass deconstruction. My research for the first 10 years at NREL included protein characterization, engineering, enzymatic activity, structure determination and elucidation of the catalytic mechanisms of biomass associated proteins. Lately, my research at NREL has moved towards cell-free enzymatic catalysis of renewable chemicals and fuels using purified enzyme pathways.