mTORC1 mediates fiber type-specific regulation of protein synthesis and muscle size during denervation

Jae Sung You, Kookjoo Kim, Nathaniel D. Steinert, Jie Chen, Troy A. Hornberger

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Skeletal muscle denervation occurs in diverse conditions and causes severe muscle atrophy. Signaling by mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) plays a central role in the maintenance of skeletal muscle mass by regulating net protein balance; yet, its role in denervation-induced atrophy is unclear. In this study, by using skeletal muscle-specific and inducible raptor knockout mice, we demonstrate that signaling through mTORC1 is activated during denervation and plays an essential role in mitigating the atrophy of non-type IIB muscle fibers. Measurements of protein synthesis rates of individual fibers suggest that denervation increases protein synthesis specifically in non-type IIB muscle fibers and that mTORC1 is required for this event. Furthermore, denervation induced a more pronounced increase in the level of phosphorylated ribosomal S6 protein in non-type IIB muscle fibers than in type IIB muscle fibers. Collectively, our results unveil a novel role for mTORC1 in mediating a fiber type-specific regulation of muscle size and protein synthesis during denervation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number74
JournalCell Death Discovery
Volume7
Issue number1
Early online dateApr 12 2021
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Research

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