Publications by authors named "N Fuku"

MOTS-c is a mitochondrial microprotein that improves metabolism. Here, we demonstrate CK2 is a direct and functional target of MOTS-c. MOTS-c directly binds to CK2 and activates it in cell-free systems.

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Article Synopsis
  • Muscle fiber composition influences athletic performance, with endurance athletes having more slow-twitch fibers, which are linked to genetics, specifically the rs236448 SNP near the CDKN1A gene.
  • Research indicates that the rs236448 A allele is associated with a higher proportion of slow-twitch fibers in various ethnic cohorts, particularly among elite endurance athletes, while the C allele favors fast-twitch fibers.
  • Additionally, CDKN1A expression is linked to muscle fiber types, with higher levels in strength athletes, suggesting the SNP could play a role in determining an individual's predisposition to either endurance or power sports.
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The α-actinin-3 proteins regulate muscle function and are located in the Z-line of the fast skeletal muscle. A common null polymorphism of R577X in α-actinin-3 gene () results in its complete absence in fast-twitch muscles. The R577X polymorphism is associated with sprint/power performance in athletes.

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Background: Skeletal muscle fiber type distribution has implications for human health, muscle function, and performance. This knowledge has been gathered using labor-intensive and costly methodology that limited these studies. Here, we present a method based on muscle tissue RNA sequencing data (totRNAseq) to estimate the distribution of skeletal muscle fiber types from frozen human samples, allowing for a larger number of individuals to be tested.

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This study aimed to assess (1) blood pressure between young, current athletes, and non-athletes early in life; (2) hypertension prevalence between former athletes and the general population later in life; and (3) understand the mechanisms between exercise training and hypertension risks in the form of DNA methylation. Study 1: A total of 354 young male participants, including current athletes, underwent blood pressure assessment. Study 2: The prevalence of hypertension in 1269 male former athletes was compared with that in the Japanese general population.

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