Martha Field

My laboratory studies gene-nutrient interactions that lead to development of disease.  It is clear that what we eat can be associated with disease onset, and some individuals are more likely to be affected based on certain genetic, or inherited, characteristics.  We investigate these interactions at a molecular level, with the ultimate goal of designing interventions that prevent disease and improve human health.  

Impaired folate-dependent one-carbon metabolism is associated with adverse physiological outcomes that include certain cancers, cardiovascular disease, neurological impairments, and birth defects.  Our laboratory uses several in vitro and in vivo model systems to study the mechanisms that underlie physiological outcomes associated with perturbed one-carbon metabolism. More specifically, we are interested in understanding the contributions of folate and/or vitamin B12 nutrition and enzyme localization in supporting mitochondrial DNA precursor synthesis, with a focus on understanding how folate nutrition affects mitochondrial DNA integrity and pathogenesis of metabolic diseases such as mitochondrial DNA depletion syndromes, chronic disease, and age-related decline in mitochondrial function. 

Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=u8g9PwcAAAAJ&hl=en

Selected Publications:

Hwang, S., Baker, C., and Field, M.S. (2024) Disruption of mitochondrial folate metabolism leads to mitochondrial DNA leakage and activation of apoptotic or inflammatory pathways.  BioRxiv, doi:  https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.07.30.605854 

Heyden, K.E., Malysheva, O.M., MacFarlane, A.J., Brody, L.C., and Field, M.S. (2024) Excess folic acid exposure increases uracil misincorporation into DNA in a tissue-specific manner in a mouse model of reduced methionine synthase expression.  J. Nutr., under revision 

Blank, H.M., Hammer, S.E., Boatright, L., Roberts, C., Heyden, K.E., Nagarajan, A., Tsuchiya, M., Brun, M., Johnson, C.D., Stover, P.J., Sitcheran, R., Kennedy, B.K., Adams, L.G., Kaeberlein, M., Field, M.S., Threadgill, D.W., Andrews-Polymenis, H.L., and Polymenis, M. (2024) Late-life dietary folate restriction reduces biosynthetic processes without compromising healthspan in mice.  Life Science Alliance, 7:  e202402868.

Bailey, R.L., MacFarlane, A.J., Field, M.S., Tagkopoulos, I., Baranzini, S.E., Edwards, K.M., Rose, C.J., Schork, N.J., Singhal, A., Wallace, B.C., Fisher, K., Markakis, K., and Stover, P.J. (2024) Artificial intelligence in food and nutrition evidence: challenges and opportunities, PNAS Nexus, under review

Francis, D.K., Awuah, E.B., Karakochuk, C.D. Williams, B., Castillo, L.F., Field, M.S., Dixit, R., and Cassano, P.A. (2024) Vitamin B supplementation for sickle cell disease. Cochrane Database Scientific Reviews, under review

Tiani, K., Arenaz, C., Spill, M.K., Foster, M.J., Davis, J., Bailey, R.L., Field, M.S., Stover, P.J., and MacFarlane, A.J. (2024) The use of ginger bioactive compounds in pregnancy: an evidence scan and umbrella review of existing meta-analyses.  Adv. Nutr., under revision

Walsh, D.J., Bernard, D.J., Fiddler, J.L., Pangilinan, F., Esposito, M., Harold, D., Field, M.S., Parle-McDermott, A., and Brody, L.C. (2024) Vitamin B12 status and folic acid supplementation influence mitochondrial heteroplasmy levels in mice as they age.  PNAS Nexus, pgae116.

Ortiz, S.R. and Field, M.S. (2023) C2C12 muscle myotubes, but not kidney proximal tubule HK-2 cells, elevate erythritol synthesis in response to oxidative stress. Curr, Dev. Nutr., 7:  102012.

Stover, P.J., Field, M.S., Andermann, M.L., Bailey, R.L. Batterham, R.L., Cauffman, E., Frühbeck, G., Iversen, P.O., Starke-Reed, P., Sternson, S.M., Vinoy, S., Witte, A.V., Zuker, C.S., Angelin, B. (2023) Neurobiology of eating behavior, nutrition and health. J. Intern. Med., 294:  582-604.

Lechner, L., Opitz, R., Silver M.,  Krabusch P., Prentice, A.M., Field, M.S., Stachelscheid, H., Leitão, E., Schröder, C., Vallone, V.F., Horsthemke, B., Jöckel, K., Schmidt, B., Nöthen, M.M., Hoffmann, P., Herms, S., Kleyn, P.W., Megges, M., Blume-Peytavi, U., Weiss K., Mai, K., Blankenstein. O., Obermayer, B., Wiegand, S., Kühnen, P. (2023) Early-set POMC methylation variability is accompanied by increased risk for obesity and is addressable by MC4R agonist treatment. Sci. Transl. Med., 15: eadg1659.

Ortiz, S.R. and Field, M.S. (2023) Sucrose intake elevates erythritol in plasma and urine in male mice. J. Nutr., 153:  1889-1902.

Ortiz, S.R. and Field, M.S. (2022) Sucrose intake elevates erythritol in plasma and urine in male mice. J. Nutr., online ahead of print, doi: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.05.022.
Heyden, K.E., Fiddler, J.L., Xiu, Y., Malysheva, O.M, Handzlik, M.K., Phinney, W.N., Stiles, L., Stabler, S.P., Metallo, C.M., Caudill, M.A., and Field, M.S. (2023) Reduced methionine synthase expression results in uracil accumulation in mitochondrial DNA and impaired oxidative capacity. PNAS Nexus, https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad105

Fiddler, J.L, Blum, J.E., Heyden, K.E., Castillo, L.F., Thalacker-Mercer, A.E., and Field, M.S. (2023) Impairments in SHMT2 expression or cellular folate availability reduce oxidative phosphorylation and pyruvate kinase activity.  Genes Nutr. 18:  5.

Francis, D.K., Awuah, E.B., Field, M.S., Karakochuk. C.D., Dixit, R., Cassano, P.A. (2022) Protocol-Intervention:  Vitamin B supplementation for sickle cell disease.  Cochrane Database of Scientific Reviews, October 2022.

Field, M.S., Bailey, R.L, and Stover, P.J. (2022) Unrecognized riboflavin deficiency and cascading effects on B6 status. Amer. J. Clin. Nutr., nqac269.

Stover, P.J., Field, M.S., Brawley, H.N., Angelin, B., Iverson, P.O., and Fruhbeck, G. (2022) Nutrition and Stem Cell Integrity in Aging. J. Intern. Med., 292:  587-603.

Ortiz, S.R., Heinz, A., Hiller, K., and Field, M.S. (2022) Erythritol synthesis in human cells is elevated in response to oxidative stress and regulated by the non-oxidative pentose phosphate pathway. Front. Nutr., https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.953056.

Field, M.S., Bailey, R.L., Brannon. P.M., Gregory, J.F., Lichtenstein, A.F., Saldanha, I.J., Schneeman, B.O. (2022) Scanning the Evidence: Process and lessons learned from an evidence scan of riboflavin to inform decisions on updating the riboflavin dietary reference intakes. Amer. J. Clin. Nutr., 116:  299-302.

Blum, J.E., Gheller, B.J, Benvie, A., Field, M.S., Panizza, E., Vacanti, N.M., Berry, D. & Thalacker-Mercer, A.E . (2021) Pyruvate Kinase M2 supports muscle progenitor cell proliferation but is dispensable for skeletal muscle regeneration after injury.  J. Nutr., 151:  3313-3328.

Fiddler, J.L., Xiu, Y., Blum, J.E., Lamarre, S.G., Phinney, W.N., Stabler, S.P., Brosnan, M.E., Brosnan, J.T., Thalacker-Mercer, A.E., and Field, M.S. (2021) Reduced Shmt2 expression impairs mitochondrial folate accumulation and respiration and leads to uracil accumulation in mouse mitochondrial DNA. J. Nutr., 151:  2882-2893.

Ortiz, S.R. and Field, M.S. (2021) Chronic dietary erythritol exposure elevates plasma erythritol level in mice but does not cause weight-gain or modify glucose homeostasis.  J. Nutr., 151:  2114-2124.

Field, M.S., Mithra, P., and Pena-Rosas, J.P.  (2021) Wheat flour fortification with iron and other micronutrients for reducing anaemia and improving iron status in populations.  Cochrane Database of Scientific Reviews, January 2021.

Gheller, B.J., Blum, J.E, Lim, E.W., Handzlik, M.K., Fong, E.H.H., Ko, A.C., Khanna, S., Gheller, M.E., Bender, E.L., Alexander, M.S., Stover, P.J., Field, M.S., Cosgrove, B.D., Metallo, C.M., Thalacker-Mercer, A.E. (2020)  Extracellular serine and glycine are required for mouse and human skeletal muscle stem and progenitor cell function. Mol. Metab., 43: 101106.

Maruvada, P., Stover, P.J., Mason, J.B., Bailey, R.L., Davis, C.D., Field, M.S., Finnell, R.H., Garza, C., Green R., Gueant. J-L., Jacques, P.F., Johnston, B., Klurfeld, D.M., Lamers, Y., MacFarlane, A., Miller, J.F., Molloy, A.M., O’Connor, D.L., Pfeiffer, C.M., Potischman, N.A., Rodricks, J.V., Rosenberg, I.H., Ross, S.A., Selhub, J., Shane, B., Stabler, S.P., Trasler, J.,  Yamini, S., and Zappalà, G. (2020) Knowledge gaps in understanding the metabolic and clinical effects of excess folates/folic acid: a summary, and perspectives, from an NIH workshop.  Amer. J. Clin. Nutr., 112: 1390-1403

Stover, P.J., Garza, C., Durga, J., and Field, M.S.  (2020) Emerging Concepts in Nutrient Needs. J. Nutr., 150, Supp 1, 2593S-2601S.

Xiu, Y. and Field, M.S., (2020) The Roles of Mitochondrial Folate Metabolism in Supporting Mitochondrial DNA Synthesis, Oxidative Phosphorylation, and Cellular Function.  Curr. Dev. Nutr., 4:  nzaa153.

Field, M.S., Mithra, P., Estevez, D., and Pena-Rosas, J.P.  (2020) Wheat flour fortification with iron for reducing anaemia and improving iron status in populations.  Cochrane Database of Scientific Reviews, July 2020.

Ortiz, S.R. and Field, M.S. (2020) Mammalian Metabolism of Erythritol, a Predictive Biomarker of Metabolic Dysfunction.  Curr. Opin. Clin. Nutr. Metab. Care, 23:  296-301.

Lachenauer, E.R., Stabler, S.P., Field, M.S. and Stover, P.J. (2020) p53 Disruption Increases Uracil Accumulation in DNA of Murine Embryonic Fibroblasts and Leads to Folic Acid–Nonresponsive Neural Tube Defects in Mice.  J. Nutr., 150:  1705-1712.

• Mentor for ASN Early Career Nutrition (ECN) pilot mentoring program, 2021
• Member of NASEM Committee on Evaluating the Process to Develop the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2020-2025), 2021-2022
• President of American Society for Nutrition Vitamin and Minerals Research Interest Group, 2021-present
• NIH Early Career Reviewer, POMD study section, February 2021
• Member of NASEM Committee on Scanning for New Evidence on Riboflavin to Support a Dietary Reference Intake Review, 2020-2021

I served as a member of the writing group for a committee from the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) in producing a report on best practices to facilitate collaboration between academia, industry, and government that ensures rigorous research conduct and transparency between all parties and the public.   This report was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2019.  In addition, I served as a member of ASN's Committee on Advocacy and Science Policy from 2018-2021, and continued to engage with this group in developing conflict of interest standards for the ASN.  I am currently the chair of ASN's "Vitamins and Minerals" research interest group.