Publications by authors named "Heather Mast"

Iron deficiency (ID) is common during gestation and in early infancy and has been shown to adversely affect cardiac development and function, which could lead to lasting cardiovascular consequences. Ketone supplementation has been shown to confer cardioprotective effects in numerous disease models. Here, we tested the hypothesis that maternal ketone supplementation during gestation would mitigate cardiac dysfunction in ID neonates.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Mitochondria play a key role in aging. Here, we measured integrated mitochondrial functions in experimentally evolved lines of the seed beetle Acanthoscelides obtectus that were selected for early (E) or late (L) reproduction for nearly 4 decades. The 2 lines have markedly different lifespans (8 days and 13 days in the E and L lines, respectively).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) maintains its balance through molecular regulators that adjust mitochondrial energy use depending on protein folding needs.
  • Calnexin plays a role in this process by managing mitochondrial metabolism and their connections to the ER via reactive oxygen species from NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4).
  • A newly discovered interaction between the proteins ERO1⍺ and PERK is crucial for quickly adapting mitochondrial functions to ER stress, enhancing calcium flow between ER and mitochondria, and reducing oxidative stress.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

For ectothermic species, adaptation to thermal changes is of critical importance. Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), which leverages multiple electron pathways to produce energy needed for survival, is among the crucial metabolic processes impacted by temperature. Our aim in this study was to identify how changes in temperature affect the less-studied electron transferring flavoprotein pathway, fed by fatty acid substrates.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a major cause and/or contributor to the development and progression of vision defects in many ophthalmologic and mitochondrial diseases. Despite their mechanistic commonality, these diseases exhibit an impressive variety in sex- and tissue-specific penetrance, incidence, and severity. Currently, there is no functional explanation for these differences.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF