An overview of protein synthesis, degradation and the regulation of protein content in skeletal muscle. 1976

V R Young

In this review paper various aspects of protein synthesis and breakdown in skeletal muscle will be surveyed as an introduction to the more specialized topics concerned with anabolic agents and the production of muscle protein. The quantitatively important role of skeletal muscle in total protein and amino acid metabolism will be evaluated by considering the size, composition (RNA and protein) and metabolic activity of this tissue in mammalian organism. This will provide an initial basis for understanding how internal and external environmental factors may affect the rate of growth and final size of the muscle mass in the intact organism. The steps in protein synthesis, involving aminoacid activation, initiation, peptide chain elongation and termination will be described, with particular reference to the synthesis of protein in fibers of skeletal muscle. This account will include a review of the specificity of myofibrillar protein synthesis and the relationships between the biochemical aspects of protein synthesis and the structural organization of the muscle cell. The role of messenger RNA, tRNA and soluble protein factors in the regulation of muscle protein synthesis in the growing animal will be reviewed, together with a short account of the ways in which hormones may modulate the rate of protein synthesis in muscle cells. However, the available data do not lead to definite conclusions concerning the rate limiting step(s) in muscle protein synthesis or the quantitative significance of factors which affect them. The mechanisms and regulation of protein degradation and the role of degradation in the regulation of muscle protein content will also be discussed.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008099 Liver A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances. Livers
D008762 Methylhistidines Histidine substituted in any position with one or more methyl groups. Methylhistidine
D009124 Muscle Proteins The protein constituents of muscle, the major ones being ACTINS and MYOSINS. More than a dozen accessory proteins exist including TROPONIN; TROPOMYOSIN; and DYSTROPHIN. Muscle Protein,Protein, Muscle,Proteins, Muscle
D009132 Muscles Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals. Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D009218 Myosins A diverse superfamily of proteins that function as translocating proteins. They share the common characteristics of being able to bind ACTINS and hydrolyze MgATP. Myosins generally consist of heavy chains which are involved in locomotion, and light chains which are involved in regulation. Within the structure of myosin heavy chain are three domains: the head, the neck and the tail. The head region of the heavy chain contains the actin binding domain and MgATPase domain which provides energy for locomotion. The neck region is involved in binding the light-chains. The tail region provides the anchoring point that maintains the position of the heavy chain. The superfamily of myosins is organized into structural classes based upon the type and arrangement of the subunits they contain. Myosin ATPase,ATPase, Actin-Activated,ATPase, Actomyosin,ATPase, Myosin,Actin-Activated ATPase,Actomyosin ATPase,Actomyosin Adenosinetriphosphatase,Adenosine Triphosphatase, Myosin,Adenosinetriphosphatase, Actomyosin,Adenosinetriphosphatase, Myosin,Myosin,Myosin Adenosinetriphosphatase,ATPase, Actin Activated,Actin Activated ATPase,Myosin Adenosine Triphosphatase
D011132 Polyribosomes A multiribosomal structure representing a linear array of RIBOSOMES held together by messenger RNA; (RNA, MESSENGER); They represent the active complexes in cellular protein synthesis and are able to incorporate amino acids into polypeptides both in vivo and in vitro. (From Rieger et al., Glossary of Genetics: Classical and Molecular, 5th ed) Polysomes,Polyribosome,Polysome
D000199 Actins Filamentous proteins that are the main constituent of the thin filaments of muscle fibers. The filaments (known also as filamentous or F-actin) can be dissociated into their globular subunits; each subunit is composed of a single polypeptide 375 amino acids long. This is known as globular or G-actin. In conjunction with MYOSINS, actin is responsible for the contraction and relaxation of muscle. F-Actin,G-Actin,Actin,Isoactin,N-Actin,alpha-Actin,alpha-Isoactin,beta-Actin,gamma-Actin,F Actin,G Actin,N Actin,alpha Actin,alpha Isoactin,beta Actin,gamma Actin
D000595 Amino Acid Sequence The order of amino acids as they occur in a polypeptide chain. This is referred to as the primary structure of proteins. It is of fundamental importance in determining PROTEIN CONFORMATION. Protein Structure, Primary,Amino Acid Sequences,Sequence, Amino Acid,Sequences, Amino Acid,Primary Protein Structure,Primary Protein Structures,Protein Structures, Primary,Structure, Primary Protein,Structures, Primary Protein
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012270 Ribosomes Multicomponent ribonucleoprotein structures found in the CYTOPLASM of all cells, and in MITOCHONDRIA, and PLASTIDS. They function in PROTEIN BIOSYNTHESIS via GENETIC TRANSLATION. Ribosome
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