Assistant Professor
Department of Food Science and Nutrition
Address: Room 267 FScN
Phone: 612-626-2904
Fax: (612) 625-5272
dmashek@umn.edu
Mashek Laboratory

Our laboratory studies how fatty acids elicit changes in energy metabolism especially as it relates to the prevention or treatment of diseases such as obesity, diabetes and hepatic steatosis.  Specifically, our research team focuses on mechanisms controlling intracellular fatty acid trafficking and how fatty acids or their metabolites control physiological processes in cells.  We are particularly interested in trying to understand how these distinct pools of fatty acids and/or their metabolites affect gene expression.  We are also very interested in identifying the distinct mechanisms through which saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids affect the development of metabolic diseases.  Various ongoing projects are studying the effects of fatty acids on hepatic energy metabolism, the development of insulin resistance and food intake regulation.

• NUTR 5621 – Nutrition and Metabolism         
• NUTR 5623 – Regulation of Energy Balance

Mashek DG.  Intracellular fatty acid transport, activation and trafficking.  In: Adipose Tissue in Health and Disease.  Edited by Jim Granneman and Todd Leff, Wiley-VCH Publishing (in press).

Mashek DG, Lei LO, Coleman RA.  (2007)  Long chain acyl-CoA synthetases and fatty acid channeling.  Future Lipidol.  2(4):465-476.

Wang S, Lee DP, Gong N, Schwerbrock NMJ, Mashek DG, Gonzalez-Baró MR, Stapleton C, Li LO, Lewin TM, Coleman RA.  (2007) Cloning and functional characterization of a novel mitochondrial N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT2).  Arch. Biochem. Biophys.  465(2):347-358.

Li LO, Mashek D. G., An J, Doughman S. D., Newgard C. B., Coleman R. A. (2006)  Overexpression of rat long chain acyl-CoA synthetase 1 alters fatty acid metabolism in rat primary hepatocytes.  Journal of Biological Chemistry 281(48):37246-37255.

Mashek DG, Li LO, Coleman RA.  (2006)  Rat long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase mRNA, protein, and activity vary in tissue distribution and in response to diet. Journal of Lipid Research  Sep;47(9):2004-10.

Mashek, D. G. and R. A. Coleman.  (2006)  Cellular fatty acid uptake: the contribution of metabolism.  Current Opinion in Lipidology 17(3):274-278.

Mashek, D. G., M. A. McKenzie, C. G. Van Horn, and R. A. Coleman.  (2006)  Rat long chain acyl-CoA synthetase 5 increases fatty acid uptake and partitioning to cellular triacylglycerol in McArdle-RH7777 cells.  Journal of Biological Chemistry13;281(2):945-950.

Mashek D. G., K. E. Bornfeldt, R. A. Coleman, J. Berger, D. A. Bernlohr, P. Black, C. C. DiRusso, S. A. Farber, W. Guo, N. Hashimoto, V. Khodiyar, F.A. Kuypers, L.J. Maltais, D.W. Nebert, A. Renieri, J.E. Schaffer, A. Stahl, P.A. Watkins, V. Vasiliou, and T.T. Yamamoto.  (2004)  Revised nomenclature for the long chain mammalian acyl-CoA synthetase gene family.  Journal of Lipid Research 45:1958-1961

• University of Minnesota Center for Diabetes Research
• American Society of Nutrition
• American Diabetes Association
• American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• The Obesity Society

• American Diabetes Association, Junior Faculty Award, 2007-2010
• Dannon Nutrition Leadership Institute, Class of 2007
• National Research Service Award, NIH, NIDDK, 2004-2006