The role of dietary nutrients in the development of type 2 diabetes. Specific questions presently being investigated include, fructose regulation of hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase gene expression, mechanisms of sucrose-induced insulin resistance in liver, the role of the endoplasmic reticulum as a nutrient sensing organelle in the liver, the importance of genetic susceptibility in diet-induced insulin resistance.

Bachelor of Science, California State University, Northridge, 1982.

Master of Arts, California State University, Northridge, 1983.

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Southern California, 1988.

Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Vanderbilt University Medical School, Dept. of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, 1988-1992.

Research Instructor, Vanderbilt University Medical School, Dept. of Molecular Physiol. & Biophysics, 1992-1993.

Assistant Professor, Univ. of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Dept. of Pediatrics, 1993-1998.

Director of Training, Center for Human Nutrition, UCHSC, 1994-1998.

Co-Director, Academic Medicine Track for Pediatric Residents, UCHSC, 1995-1997.

Co-Director, NIH Nutrition Training Grant, UCHSC, 1995-1998.

Faculty Senate, School of Medicine, UCHSC, 1996-1997.

Associate Professor, Arizona State University, Depts. of Exercise Science and Biology, 1998-2000.

Executive Committee, Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program, ASU, 1998-2000.

Institutional Review Board Member, Arizona Heart Institute, 1998-2000.

American Society for Nutritional Sciences, Executive Committee, Research Interest Section on Aging and Chronic Disease, 1999.

Student Health Advisory Committee, ASU, 1999-2000.

Ad Hoc Reviewer for NIH, General Medical Sciences, 2000.

Associate Professor, Univ. of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Dept. of Medicine, 2001-2003.

Scientific Program Organizing Committee, American Diabetes Association Annual Meeting, 2001-2002.

Center for Human Nutrition, Nutrition NIH Training Grant Steering Committee, 2001-present.

Editorial Board, Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental, 2002-present.

Professor, Colorado State University, Dept. of Food Science and Human Nutrition, 2003-present.

Lillian Fountain Smith Endowed Chair in Nutrition, Colorado State University, 2003-present.

Vanderbilt University Diabetes Research and Training Center Fellowship, 1989-1990.

Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International Post-Doctoral Fellowship, 1990-1992.

Bristol Meyers Squibb/Mead Johnson Research Center Award, 1993-1995.

American Physiological Society Career Enhancement Award, 1994.

NIH FIRST Award, 1994.

NIH R01 Research Awards 1998-present and 2001-present.

Investigator Incentive Award, Arizona State University, 1998.

Mentor Appreciation Award, Preparing Future Faculty Program, Arizona State University, 1999.

Lecturer, Metabolic Regulation In Vivo Course, Vanderbilt University Medical School, 1991-1992.

Lecturer, Principles of Nutrition Course, UCHSC, 1993-1997.

Lecturer, Nutritional Biochemistry Course, CSU, 1993.

Lecturer, Nutrition and Home Health Care, UCHSC, 1995.

Course Instructor, Tracer Methodology Course, Center for Human Nutrition, UCHSC, 1995-1997.

Coordinator, Young Investigator Research Conference, Center for Human Nutrition, UCHSC, 1996-1997.

Course Instructor, Exercise Physiology, ASU, 1998-2000.

Course Instructor, Fuel Metabolism in Health and Disease, ASU, 1999-2000.

Course Instructor, Graduate Exercise Physiology, ASU, 1999.

Course Instructor, Ergogenic Aids and Fad Diets: Myth vs. Science, ASU, 2000.

Course Director, Theory and application of techniques for the study of human metabolism in vivo, CLSC 7400, UCHSC Clinical Sciences Program, 2002.

M.J. Pagliassotti, E.C. Gayles, D.A. Podolin, Y. Wei, C.L. Morin. Developmental stage modifies diet-induced peripheral insulin resistance in rats. Am. J. Physiol. 278: R66-R73, 2000.

W.T. Willis, M.R. Jackman, M.E. Bizeau, M.J. Pagliassotti, J.R. Hazel. Hyperthermia impairs liver mitochondrial function in vitro. Am. J. Physiol. 278: R1240-R1246, 2000.

S.R. Commerford, M.J. Pagliassotti, C.L. Melby, Y. Wei, E.C. Gayles, J.O. Hill. Fat oxidation, lipolysis and free fatty acid cycling in obesity-prone and obesity-resistant rats. Am. J. Physiol. 279:E875-E885, 2000.

J.S. Thresher, D.A. Podolin, Y. Wei, R.S. Mazzeo, M.J. Pagliassotti. Comparison of the effects of sucrose and fructose on insulin action and glucose tolerance. Am. J. Physiol. 279:R1334-R1340, 2000.

E.E. Smith, V.L. Ferguson, S.J. Simske, E.C. Gayles, M.J. Pagliassotti. Effects of high fat or high sucrose diets on rat femora mechanical and compositional properties. Biomed. Sci. Instrum. 36: 385-390, 2000.

M.E. Bizeau, J.S. Thresher, M.J. Pagliassotti. A high sucrose diet increases gluconeogenic capacity in isolated periportal and perivenous rat hepatocytes. Am. J. Physiol. 280: E695-E702, 2001.

S.R. Commerford, M.J. Pagliassotti, C.L. Melby, Y. Wei, J.O. Hill. Inherent capacity for lipogenesis or dietary fat retention is not increased in obesity prone rats. Am. J. Physiol. 280: R1680-R1687, 2001.

M.E. Bizeau, C. Short, J.S. Thresher, S.R. Commerford, W.T. Willis, M.J. Pagliassotti. Increased pyruvate flux capacities account for increased gluconeogenesis in high sucrose and high fat-fed rats. Am. J. Physiol. 281: R427-R433, 2001.

S.R. Commerford, M.E. Bizeau, H. McRae, A. Jampolis, J.S. Thresher, M.J. Pagliassotti. Hyperglycemia compensates for diet-induced insulin resistance in liver and skeletal muscle of rats. Am. J. Physiol. 281:R1380-R1389, 2001.

M.E. Bizeau, J.S. Thresher, M.J. Pagliassotti. High sucrose diets increase glucose-6-phosphatase and glucose release and decrease glucokinase in hepatocytes. J. Appl. Physiol. 91:2041-2046, 2001.

M.J. Pagliassotti, J. Kang, J.S. Thresher, C.K. Sung, M.E. Bizeau. Elevated basal PI 3-kinase activity and reduced insulin signaling characterize sucrose-induced hepatic insulin resistance. Am. J. Physiol. 282:E170-E176, 2002.

S.R. Commerford, J. Ferniza, M.E. Bizeau, J.S. Thresher, W.T. Willis, M.J. Pagliassotti. Diets enriched in sucrose or fat increased gluconeogenesis and glucose-6-phosphatase but not basal glucose production in rats. Am. J. Physiol. 283:E545-E555, 2002.

T.J. Horton, S.R. Commerford, M.J. Pagliassotti, D.H. Bessesen. Postprandial leg uptake of triglycerides is greater in women than in men. Am. J. Physiol. 283:E1192-E1202, 2002.

M.J. Pagliassotti, Y. Wei, M.E. Bizeau. Lack of suppression of glucose-6-phosphatase activity and increased mRNA following ingestion of a sucrose-enriched meal in rats. J. Nutrition 133:32-37, 2003.

H. Yamashita, J. Shao, L Qiao, M. Pagliassotti, J.E. Friedman. Effect of spontaneous gestational diabetes on fetal and postnatal hepatic insulin resistance in Leprdb/+ mice. Pediatric Research 53:411-418, 2003.

Y. Wei, M.E. Bizeau, M.J. Pagliassotti. An acute increase in fructose concentration increases glucose-6-phosphatase mRNA via mechanisms that are independent of glycogen synthase kinase-3 in rats. J. Nutrition 134:545-551, 2004.

Y. Wei and M.J. Pagliassotti. Hepato-specific effects of fructose on c-jun N-terminal kinase: Implications for hepatic insulin resistance. Am. J. Physiol. 287:E926-E933, 2004.

S. Cardin, M.J. Pagliassotti, M.C. Moore, D.S. Edgerton, M. Lautz, B. Farmer, D.W. Neal, A.D. Cherrington. Vagal cooling and concomitant norepinephrine infusion do not reduce net hepatic glucose uptake in the conscious dog. Am. J. Physiol. 287:R742-R748, 2004.

L. Puljak, M.J. Pagliassotti, Y. Wei, I. Qadri, V. Parameswara, V. Esser, G.J. Fitz, G. Kilic. Inhibition of cellular responses to insulin in the liver. A role for PKC in insulin resistance. J. Physiol. 563:471-482, 2005.

J. Shao, L. Qiao, K. VanAuken, Y. Wei, M.J. Pagliassotti, J.E. Friedman. Sustained high glucose enhances phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene expression and hepatocellular glucose production via elevated LAP/LIP ratio. Diabetes 54:976-984, 2005.

L. Qiao, P.S. Maclean, J. Schaack, D.J. Orlicky, C. Darimont, M. Pagliassotti, J.E. Friedman, J. Shao. C/EBP? regulates human adiponectin gene transcription through an intronic enhancer. Diabetes 54:1744-1754, 2005.

Y. Wei, D. Wang, M.J. Pagliassotti. Fructose selectively modulates c-jun N-terminal kinase and insulin signaling in primary rat hepatocytes. J. Nutrition 135:1642-1646, 2005.

D. Wang, Y. Wei, D. Schmoll, K.N. Maclean, M.J. Pagliassotti. Endoplasmic reticulum stress increases glucose-6-phosphatase and glucose cycling in liver cells. Endocrinology 147:350-358, 2006.

D. Wang, Y. Wei, M.J. Pagliassotti. Saturated fatty acids promote endoplasmic reticulum stress and liver injury in rats with hepatic steatosis. Endocrinology 147:943-951, 2006.

Y. Wei, D. Wang, F. Topczewski, M.J. Pagliassotti. Saturated fatty acids induce endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis independently of ceramide in liver cells. Am. J. Physiol. 291:E275-E281, 2006.

Y. Wei, D. Wang, M.J. Pagliassotti. Saturated fatty acid-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis are augmented by Trans 10, Cis 12-conjugated linoleic acid in liver cells. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 303:105-113, 2007.

M.J. Pagliassotti, Y. Wei, D. Wang. Insulin protects liver cells from saturated fatty acid-induced apoptosis via inhibition of c-Jun NH2 terminal kinase activity. Endocrinology 148:3338-3345, 2007.

J.C. Gonzales, C.L. Gentile, K. Pfaffenbach, Y. Wei, D. Wang, M.J. Pagliassotti. Chemical induction of the unfolded protein response in the liver increases glucose production in vivo and is activated during insulin-induced hypoglycemia in rats. Diabetologia (In Press).

A.D. Cherrington, S. Myers, M. Moore, B. Adkins-Marshall, M.J. Pagliassotti. The regulation of net hepatic glucose uptake in the conscious dogs. In: Diabetes 1991, Proceedings of the 14th International Diabetes Foundation Congress, Washington, D.C., Elsevier Science Publishers, 1992.

M.J. Pagliassotti and J.O. Hill. Fuel partitioning and diet-induced obesity. In: Proceedings of the 9th biennial conference on Exercise, Metabolism and Nutrition, pp. 125-128, 1993.

J.O. Hill, M.J. Pagliassotti, J.C. Peters. Nongenetic determinants of obesity and fat topography. In: Genetic Determinants of Obesity, C. Bouchard, editor. Boca Raton: CRC Press, Inc. pp. 35-48, 1994.

S.N. Davis, M.J. Pagliassotti, A.D. Cherrington. Liver glucose metabolism in diabetes. In: The Diabetes Annual, P.D. Home and S. Marshall, editors. Volume 8, pp. 119-134, 1994.

M.J. Pagliassotti and T.J. Horton. Hormonal and neural regulation of hepatic glucose uptake. In: The Role of the Liver in Maintaining Glucose Homeostasis. M.J. Pagliassotti, S.N. Davis, A.D. Cherrington, editors. R.G. Landes, Co., pp. 45-70, 1994.

S.N. Davis and M.J. Pagliassotti. The role of the liver in glucose homeostasis in NIDDM and IDDM. In: The Role of the Liver in Maintaining Glucose Homeostasis. M.J. Pagliassotti, S.N. Davis, A.D. Cherrington, editors. R.G. Landes, Co., pp. 85-108, 1994.

A.D. Cherrington, B.A. Marshall, M.C. Moore, M.J. Pagliassotti, M. Shiota. A role for the autonomic nervous system in regulation of glucose uptake by the liver. In: Proceedings of the 3rd annual conference on neural regulation in the liver, pp. 87-91, 1995.

M.J. Pagliassotti and T.J. Horton. Sucrose, insulin action and biologic complexity. In: Recent Research Developments in Physiology; S.G. Pandalai, editor. Research Signpost, 2:337-353, 2004.

M.J. Pagliassotti, K.T. Pfaffenbach and T.J. Horton. Techniques used to assess insulin action. In: Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome: Childhood Precursors and Adult Disease. Kristen Nadeau and Phillip Zeitler, editors. The Humana Press, Inc. pp. 101-113, 2008.

D. Books - M.J. Pagliassotti, S.N. Davis, A.D. Cherrington. The role of the liver in maintaining glucose homeostasis. R.G. Landes Co., Austin, TX, 1994.

"Nutrient Effects on Insulin Action". Bristol-Meyers Squibb/Mead Johnson Nutritional Group First Annual Scientific Colloquium, Evansville, IN., June, 1993.

"Fuel Partitioning and Diet Induced Obesity". Exercise, Metabolism, and Nutrition 9th Biennial Conference, Sydney, Australia, Sept., 1993.

"Animal Models of Diet-Induced Insulin Resistance". Obesity, Diabetes and the Thrifty Gene, Lorne, Australia, Oct., 1993.

"Nutrient Effects on Whole-Body and Tissue Glucose Metabolism". Parke-Davis, Dept. of Signal Transduction, Ann Arbor, MI, Dec., 1994.

"Current Issues on the Role of Diet in Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes: A Practical Guide". Diabetes Care Unit, Foothill Presbyterian Hospital, Glendora, CA, April, 1995.

"Nutrient Partitioning: Differences in Susceptibility to Dietary Obesity". FASEB Summer Conference: Genetic and Behavioral Influences on Nutrient Metabolism and Obesity, Copper Mountain, CO, Aug., 1995.

"Dietary Macronutrients as Therapeutic Tools in Type II Diabetes". Ross Products Division, Abbot Laboratories, Medical Nutrition Dept., Columbus, OH, May, 1997.

"Role of Dietary Nutrients in Type II Diabetes". UCHSC Clinical Nutrition Research Unit Annual Retreat, Boulder, CO, June, 1997.

"Diet-Induced Adaptations on Hepatic Glucose Metabolism: Implications for Type II Diabetes". Diabetes and Metabolism Unit, City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, CA, July, 1998.

"In Vivo Methodologies to Study Hepatic Glucose Metabolism". Diabetes and Metabolism Unit, City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, CA, July, 1998.

"Dietary Nutrients and Insulin Action". NIH Phoenix Research Conference, Sept., 1999.

"Dietary Nutrients and Insulin Action". Veterans Administration Hospital, Phoenix, AZ. July, 2000.

"Nutrient-Induced Changes in Hepatic Glucose Metabolism: Gluconeogenesis and Insulin Action". Merck Pharmaceuticals, Rahway, N.J. April, 2001.

"Impact of nutrient composition on hepatic glucose metabolism". American Diabetes Association Annual Meeting Symposium: Mechanisms of Regulation of Postprandial Glycemic Excursion. Philadelphia, PA, June, 2001.

"Hepatic glucose metabolism in obesity and type 2 diabetes". Arizona State University Symposium: Fuel Metabolism in Health & Disease. Tempe, AZ, March, 2002.

"Hepatic adaptations to dietary nutrients". University of Puerto Rico Medical School, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, San Juan, P.R., April, 2002.

"Nutrient regulation of liver glucose metabolism". Oregon State University, Dept. of Nutrition and Linus Pauling Institute, Corvallis, OR, September, 2002.

"The liver as a dietary energy buffer: A conceptual framework to understand hepatic adaptations to dietary nutrients". Colorado State University, Department of Nutrition, October, 2002.

"Glucose-6-phosphatase gene expression is regulated by the endoplasmic reticulum stress response". Experimental Biology 2003 Featured Topic: Regulation of fuel metabolism and energy balance. San Diego, CA, April, 2003.

"Dietary factors and type 2 diabetes". Vanderbilt University Diabetes Research and Training Center Diabetes Symposium, Nashville, TN. May, 2003.

"Mechanisms of sucrose-induced insulin resistance". FASEB Summer Research Conference: Molecular Mechanisms of Regulation by Dietary Constituents. Snowmass, CO, August, 2003.

"Obesity, the least of the livers problems". Center for Human Nutrition Seminar Series, UCHSC, March, 2004.

"Fructose produces hepatic insulin resistance via activation of c-Jun terminal kinase activity in vivo". Genomics Symposium: Health Disparities in Diabetes: Genetic and Therapeutic Applications. Experimental Biology, Washington, D.C., April, 2004.

"Sucrose and fructose: Cause for concern or much to do about nothing"? Lillian Fountain Smith Conference for Nutrition Educators, Fort Collins, Co, June, 2004.

"Nutrient regulation in the hepatocyte". Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, December, 2004.

"Application of tracers for in vivo assessment of nutrient kinetics". Dept. of Medicine, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, March, 2005.

"Sucrose and fructose corn syrup: Cause for concern or much to do about nothing". 2nd Annual Western Colorado Nutrition Conference, Grand Junction, CO, April 30, 2005.

"The obesity link to liver disease". 2nd Annual Western Colorado Nutrition Conference, Grand Junction, CO, April 30, 2005.

"The role of fatty acid composition in the development of steatohepatitis". Diabetes Research Center, University of Dallas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX, September 8, 2005.

"The role of the liver in obesity and diabetes". Chapman University Biological Sciences Research Colloquium, Orange, CA, January 9, 2006.

"New roles for the endoplasmic reticulum in the liver". University of Colorado and Denver Health Sciences Center, Endocrine Research Conference, March 22, 2006.

"Saturated fatty acids induce endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis in liver cells". Experimental Biology 2006 Featured Topic: Lipid Metabolism and Liver Inflammation. San Francisco, CA, April 2006.

"Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A new consequence of the obesity epidemic". Colorado State University Research Colloquium: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, April 2006.

"Update on Diabetes". Integrating Research and Outreach in Nutrition, Health and Food Safety. Colorado State University, September 2006.

"Roles of fatty acid composition and the endoplasmic reticulum in hepatic steatosis". Graduate Program in Nutrition Seminar Series, University of Kentucky, November, 2006.

"Lipotoxicity in the hepatocyte: The role of the endoplasmic reticulum". Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, February 2007.

"Lipid sensing by the endoplasmic reticulum and its role in fatty liver disease progression". University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Grand Rounds, September, 2007.

"The liver: A casualty of the obesity and type 2 diabetes epidemics". Northern Colorado Health Research Consortium, November, 2007.

"Does nutrient sensing in the liver involve a trip to the ER". Texas A&M University, Intercollegiate Faculty of Nutrition Seminar Series, March, 2008.

"A Vision for the Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health", Rutgers University, June, 2008.

NIH R01 (DK072017), "Obesity and Hepatic Steatosis", 09/01/2005-08/30/2009. Principal Investigator ($800,000 Direct Costs).

NIH R01 (DK47416), "Nutrient Effects on Insulin Action", 2/1/2006-1/31/2010. Principal Investigator ($700,000 Direct costs).

Colorado State University, Academic Enrichment Program, "A Research Consortium in Agriculture and Metabolic Diseases", 7/1/2005-6/30/2010, Principal Investigator ($933,000 Direct costs).

USDA-CSREES National Needs Fellowship Program, "Crops for Health": Applying Plant Genomics for Human Health Benefits, 11/15/2006-11/14/2011, Co-Investigator ($229,500 Direct Costs).

Agriculture Experiment Station, "Plants as a source of bioactive molecules for the treatment of obesity and diabetes", 7/1/07-6/30/12, Principal Investigator ($88,433 Direct Costs).