The role of ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent proteolysis in the remodelling of skeletal muscle.

In skeletal muscle, as in any mammalian tissue, protein levels are dictated by relative rates of protein synthesis and breakdown. Recent studies have shown that the ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent proteolytic pathway is mainly responsible for the breakdown of myofibrillar proteins. In this pathway proteins that are to be degraded are first tagged with a polyubiquitin degradation signal.

Modulation of intestinal protein synthesis and protease mRNA by luminal and systemic nutrients.

Route of nutrient supply is important in regulation of intestinal protein metabolism, because total parenteral nutrition, compared with enteral feeding, leads to profound atrophy. Participation of the fractional rate of protein synthesis (Ks), their degradation in regulation of gut protein balance, and their possible modulation by specific nutrients are the focus of our work. We developed an in situ experimental system that allows controlled exposure of intestinal mucosa to nutrients systemically, luminally, or both.

Chemotherapy inhibits skeletal muscle ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent proteolysis.

Chemotherapy has cachectic effects, but it is unknown whether cytostatic agents alter skeletal muscle proteolysis. We hypothesized that chemotherapy-induced alterations in protein synthesis should result in the increased incidence of abnormal proteins, which in turn should stimulate ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent proteolysis. The effects of the nitrosourea cystemustine were investigated in skeletal muscles from both healthy and colon 26 adenocarcinoma-bearing mice, an appropriate model for testing the impact of cytostatic agents.