Signal transduction pathways that regulate muscle growth

2008 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 99-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henning Wackerhage ◽  
Aivaras Ratkevicius

Progressive high-resistance exercise with 8–12 repetitions per set to near failure for beginners and 1–12 repetitions for athletes will increase muscle protein synthesis for up to 72 h; approx. 20 g of protein, especially when ingested directly after exercise, will promote high growth by elevating protein synthesis above breakdown. Muscle growth is regulated by signal transduction pathways that sense and compute local and systemic signals and regulate various cellular functions. The main signalling mechanisms are the phosphorylation of serine, threonine and tyrosine residues by kinases and their dephosphorylation by phosphatases. Muscle growth is stimulated by the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) system, which senses (i) IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1)/MGF (mechano-growth factor)/insulin and/or (ii) mechanical signals, (iii) amino acids and (iv) the energetic state of the muscle, and regulates protein synthesis accordingly. The action of the mTOR system is opposed by myostatin-Smad signalling which inhibits muscle growth via gene transcription.

2006 ◽  
Vol 290 (5) ◽  
pp. E882-E888 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ippei Yamaoka ◽  
Masako Doi ◽  
Mitsuo Nakayama ◽  
Akane Ozeki ◽  
Shinji Mochizuki ◽  
...  

The present study was conducted to determine the contribution of muscle protein synthesis to the prevention of anesthesia-induced hypothermia by intravenous administration of an amino acid (AA) mixture. We examined the changes of intraperitoneal temperature (Tcore) and the rates of protein synthesis ( Ks) and the phosphorylation states of translation initiation regulators and their upstream signaling components in skeletal muscle in conscious (Nor) or propofol-anesthetized (Ane) rats after a 3-h intravenous administration of a balanced AA mixture or saline (Sal). Compared with Sal administration, the AA mixture administration markedly attenuated the decrease in Tcore in rats during anesthesia, whereas Tcore in the Nor-AA group became slightly elevated during treatment. Stimulation of muscle protein synthesis resulting from AA administration was observed in each case, although Ks remained lower in the Ane-AA group than in the Nor-Sal group. AA administration during anesthesia significantly increased insulin concentrations to levels ∼6-fold greater than in the Nor-AA group and enhanced phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein-1 (4E-BP1) and ribosomal protein S6 protein kinase relative to all other groups and treatments. The alterations in the Ane-AA group were accompanied by hyperphosphorylation of protein kinase B and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). These results suggest that administration of an AA mixture during anesthesia stimulates muscle protein synthesis via insulin-mTOR-dependent activation of translation initiation regulators caused by markedly elevated insulin and, thereby, facilitates thermal accumulation in the body.


Physiologia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-33
Author(s):  
Shelby C. Osburn ◽  
Christopher G. Vann ◽  
David D. Church ◽  
Arny A. Ferrando ◽  
Michael D. Roberts

Muscle protein synthesis and proteolysis are tightly coupled processes. Given that muscle growth is promoted by increases in net protein balance, it stands to reason that bolstering protein synthesis through amino acids while reducing or inhibiting proteolysis could be a synergistic strategy in enhancing anabolism. However, there is contradictory evidence suggesting that the proper functioning of proteolytic systems in muscle is required for homeostasis. To add clarity to this issue, we sought to determine if inhibiting different proteolytic systems in C2C12 myotubes in conjunction with acute and chronic leucine treatments affected markers of anabolism. In Experiment 1, myotubes underwent 1-h, 6-h, and 24-h treatments with serum and leucine-free DMEM containing the following compounds (n = 6 wells per treatment): (i) DMSO vehicle (CTL), (ii) 2 mM leucine + vehicle (Leu-only), (iii) 2 mM leucine + 40 μM MG132 (20S proteasome inhibitor) (Leu + MG132), (iv) 2 mM leucine + 50 μM calpeptin (calpain inhibitor) (Leu + CALP), and (v) 2 mM leucine + 1 μM 3-methyladenine (autophagy inhibitor) (Leu + 3MA). Protein synthesis levels significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the Leu-only and Leu + 3MA 6-h treatments compared to CTL, and levels were significantly lower in Leu + MG132 and Leu + CALP versus Leu-only and CTL. With 24-h treatments, total protein yield was significantly lower in Leu + MG132 cells versus other treatments. Additionally, the intracellular essential amino acid (EAA) pool was significantly greater in 24-h Leu + MG132 treatments versus other treatments. In a follow-up experiment, myotubes were treated for 48 h with CTL, Leu-only, and Leu + MG132 for morphological assessments. Results indicated Leu + MG132 yielded significantly smaller myotubes compared to CTL and Leu-only. Our data are limited in scope due to the utilization of select proteolysis inhibitors. However, this is the first evidence to suggest proteasome and calpain inhibition with MG132 and CALP, respectively, abrogate leucine-induced protein synthesis in myotubes. Additionally, longer-term Leu + MG132 treatments translated to an atrophy phenotype. Whether or not proteasome inhibition in vivo reduces leucine- or EAA-induced anabolism remains to be determined.


2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 1306-1306
Author(s):  
Kyle L. Timmerman ◽  
Jessica L. Lee ◽  
Hans C. Dreyer ◽  
Shaheen Dhanani ◽  
Erin L. Glynn ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: Our objective was to determine whether endothelial-dependent vasodilation is an essential mechanism by which insulin stimulates human skeletal muscle protein synthesis and anabolism. Subjects: Subjects were healthy young adults (n = 14) aged 31 ± 2 yr. Design: Subjects were studied at baseline and during local leg infusion of insulin alone (control, n = 7) or insulin plus the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-monomethyl-l-arginine (L-NMMA, n = 7) to prevent insulin-induced vasodilation. Methods: We measured skeletal muscle protein metabolism with stable isotope tracers, blood flow with indocyanine green, capillary recruitment with contrast enhanced ultrasound, glucose metabolism with stable isotope tracers, and phosphorylation of proteins associated with insulin (Akt) and amino acid-induced mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling (mTOR, S6 kinase 1, and eukaryotic initiation factor 4Ebinding protein 1) with Western blot analysis. Results: No basal differences between groups were detected. During insulin infusion, blood flow and capillary recruitment increased in the control (P &lt; 0.05) group only; Akt phosphorylation and glucose uptake increased in both groups (P &lt; 0.05), with no group differences; and mTORC1 signaling increased more in control (P &lt; 0.05) than in l-NMMA. Phenylalanine net balance increased (P &lt; 0.05) in both groups, but with opposite mechanisms: increased protein synthesis (basal, 0.051 ± 0.006%/h; insulin, 0.077 ± 0.008%/h; P &lt; 0.05) with no change in proteolysis in control and decreased proteolysis (P &lt; 0.05) with no change in synthesis (basal, 0.061 ± 0.004%/h; insulin, 0.050 ± 0.006%/h; P value not significant) in l-NMMA. Conclusions: Endothelial-dependent vasodilation and the consequent increase in nutritive flow and mTORC1 signaling, rather than Akt signaling, are fundamental mechanisms by which insulin stimulates muscle protein synthesis in humans. Additionally, these data underscore that insulin modulates skeletal muscle proteolysis according to its effects on nutritive flow.


2019 ◽  
Vol 317 (4) ◽  
pp. C629-C641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marni D. Boppart ◽  
Ziad S. Mahmassani

The α7β1-integrin is a transmembrane adhesion protein that connects laminin in the extracellular matrix (ECM) with actin in skeletal muscle fibers. The α7β1-integrin is highly expressed in skeletal muscle and is concentrated at costameres and myotendious junctions, providing the opportunity to transmit longitudinal and lateral forces across the membrane. Studies have demonstrated that α7-integrin subunit mRNA and protein are upregulated following eccentric contractions as a mechanism to reinforce load-bearing structures and resist injury with repeated bouts of exercise. It has been hypothesized for many years that the integrin can also promote protein turnover in a manner that can promote beneficial adaptations with resistance exercise training, including hypertrophy. This review provides basic information about integrin structure and activation and then explores its potential to serve as a critical mechanosensor and activator of muscle protein synthesis and growth. Overall, the hypothesis is proposed that the α7β1-integrin can contribute to mechanical-load induced skeletal muscle growth via an mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1-independent mechanism.


2000 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark J. Fedele ◽  
Jazmir M. Hernandez ◽  
Charles H. Lang ◽  
Thomas C. Vary ◽  
Scot R. Kimball ◽  
...  

This study determined whether rates of protein synthesis increase after acute resistance exercise in skeletal muscle from severely diabetic rats. Previous studies consistently show that postexercise rates of protein synthesis are elevated in nondiabetic and moderately diabetic rats. Severely diabetic rats performed acute resistance exercise ( n= 8) or remained sedentary ( n = 8). A group of nondiabetic age-matched rats served as controls ( n = 9). Rates of protein synthesis were measured 16 h after exercise. Plasma glucose concentrations were >500 mg/dl in the diabetic rats. Rates of protein synthesis (nmol phenylalanine incorporated ⋅ g muscle−1 ⋅ h−1, means ± SE) were not different between exercised (117 ± 7) and sedentary (106 ± 9) diabetic rats but were significantly ( P < 0.05) lower than in sedentary nondiabetic rats (162 ± 9) and in exercised nondiabetic rats (197 ± 7). Circulating insulin concentrations were 442 ± 65 pM in nondiabetic rats and 53 ± 11 and 72 ± 19 pM in sedentary and exercised diabetic rats, respectively. Plasma insulin-like growth factor I concentrations were reduced by 33% in diabetic rats compared with nondiabetic rats, and there was no difference between exercised and sedentary diabetic rats. Muscle insulin-like growth factor I was not affected by resistance exercise in diabetic rats. The results show that there is a critical concentration of insulin below which rates of protein synthesis begin to decline in vivo. In contrast to previous studies using less diabetic rats, severely diabetic rats cannot increase rates of protein synthesis after acute resistance exercise.


2009 ◽  
Vol 94 (5) ◽  
pp. 1630-1637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgar L. Dillon ◽  
Melinda Sheffield-Moore ◽  
Douglas Paddon-Jones ◽  
Charles Gilkison ◽  
Arthur P. Sanford ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 123 (4) ◽  
pp. 710-716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riki Ogasawara ◽  
Yuki Arihara ◽  
Junya Takegaki ◽  
Koichi Nakazato ◽  
Naokata Ishii

Resistance exercise (RE) volume is recognized as an important factor that stimulates muscle protein synthesis (MPS) and is considered, at least in part, to be involved in the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1)-associated signaling. However, the effects of relatively high-volume RE on mTORC1 and MPS remain unclear. In the present study, we used an animal model of RE to investigate the relationship between RE volume and MPS. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to RE, and muscle samples were obtained 6 h after performing 1, 3, 5, 10, or 20 sets of RE. Although 1 set of RE did not increase MPS [measured by the surface sensing of translation (SUnSET) method], multiple sets (3, 5, 10, and 20 sets) significantly increased MPS. However, the increase in MPS reached a plateau after 3 or 5 sets of RE, and no further increase in MPS was observed with additional RE sets. In contrast to the MPS response, we observed that p70S6K phosphorylation at Thr389, a marker of mTORC1 activity, and Ser240/244 phosphorylation of rpS6, a downstream target of p70S6K, gradually increased with higher RE volume. The above results suggest that the relationship between RE volume and MPS was not linear. Thus the increase in MPS with increasing RE volume saturates before p70S6K phosphorylation, suggesting a threshold effect for the relationship between p70S6K activation and MPS. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between resistance exercise (RE) volume and muscle protein synthesis. We found that the relationship between RE volume and p70S6K phosphorylation was almost linear, but the increase in muscle protein synthesis began to plateau after approximately five sets of RE.


1999 ◽  
Vol 84 (8) ◽  
pp. 2705-2711 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melinda Sheffield-Moore ◽  
Randall J. Urban ◽  
Steven E. Wolf ◽  
J. Jiang ◽  
Don H. Catlin ◽  
...  

Short term administration of testosterone stimulates net protein synthesis in healthy men. We investigated whether oxandrolone[ Oxandrin (OX)], a synthetic analog of testosterone, would improve net muscle protein synthesis and transport of amino acids across the leg. Six healthy men [22 ± 1 (±se) yr] were studied in the postabsorptive state before and after 5 days of oral OX (15 mg/day). Muscle protein synthesis and breakdown were determined by a three-compartment model using stable isotopic data obtained from femoral arterio-venous sampling and muscle biopsy. The precursor-product method was used to determine muscle protein fractional synthetic rates. Fractional breakdown rates were also directly calculated. Total messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) concentrations of skeletal muscle insulin-like growth factor I and androgen receptor (AR) were determined using RT-PCR. Model-derived muscle protein synthesis increased from 53.5 ± 3 to 68.3 ± 5 (mean ± se) nmol/min·100 mL/leg (P &lt; 0.05), whereas protein breakdown was unchanged. Inward transport of amino acids remained unchanged with OX, whereas outward transport decreased (P &lt; 0.05). The fractional synthetic rate increased 44% (P &lt; 0.05) after OX administration, with no change in fractional breakdown rate. Therefore, the net balance between synthesis and breakdown became more positive with both methodologies (P &lt; 0.05) and was not different from zero. Further, RT-PCR showed that OX administration significantly increased mRNA concentrations of skeletal muscle AR without changing insulin-like growth factor I mRNA concentrations. We conclude that short term OX administration stimulated an increase in skeletal muscle protein synthesis and improved intracellular reutilization of amino acids. The mechanism for this stimulation may be related to an OX-induced increase in AR expression in skeletal muscle.


2003 ◽  
Vol 285 (6) ◽  
pp. E1205-E1215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles H. Lang ◽  
Robert A. Frost ◽  
Nobuko Deshpande ◽  
Vinayshree Kumar ◽  
Thomas C. Vary ◽  
...  

Acute alcohol (EtOH) intoxication impairs skeletal muscle protein synthesis. Although this impairment is not associated with a decrease in the total plasma amino acid concentration, EtOH may blunt the anabolic response to amino acids. To examine this hypothesis, rats were administered EtOH or saline (Sal) and 2.5 h thereafter were orally administered either leucine (Leu) or Sal. The gastrocnemius was removed 20 min later to assess protein synthesis and signaling components important in translational control of protein synthesis. Oral Leu increased muscle protein synthesis by the same magnitude in Sal- and EtOH-treated rats. However, the increase in the latter group was insufficient to overcome the suppressive effect of EtOH, and the rate of synthesis remained lower than that observed in rats from the Sal-Sal group. Leu markedly increased phosphorylation of Thr residues 36, 47, and 70 on 4E-binding protein (BP)1 in muscle from rats not receiving EtOH, and this response was associated with a redistribution of eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4E from the inactive eIF4E · 4E-BP1 to the active eIF4E · eIF4G complex. In EtOH-treated rats, the Leu-induced phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 and changes in eIF4E availability were partially abrogated. EtOH also prevented the Leu-induced increase in phosphorylation of eIF4G, the serine/threonine protein kinase S6K1, and the ribosomal protein S6. Moreover, EtOH attenuated the Leu-induced phosphorylation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). The ability of EtOH to blunt the anabolic effects of Leu could not be attributed to differences in the plasma concentrations of insulin, insulin-like growth factor I, or Leu. Finally, although EtOH increased the plasma corticosterone concentration, inhibition of glucocorticoid action by RU-486 was unable to prevent EtOH-induced defects in the ability of Leu to stimulate 4E-BP1, S6K1, and mTOR phosphorylation. Hence, ethanol produces a leucine resistance in skeletal muscle, as evidenced by the impaired phosphorylation of 4E-BP1, eIF4G, S6K1, and mTOR, that is independent of elevations in endogenous glucocorticoids.


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