Biochemistry of Exercise

Abstract

Biochemistry of Exercise Editors: HARGREAVES, Mark, PhD (Deakin Univ); THOMPSON, Martin, PhD (Univ of Sydney) Bibliographic Data: (ISBN: 0–88011-758–3, Human Kinetics Inc, 1999, $60.00) 337 pages, Contributors, hard cover Audiences: Exercise Biochemists, Exercise Physiologists Subjects: Sports Medicine, Biochemistry Other Info: The book contains black-and-white illustrations. DESCRIPTION: This book, dedicated to the memory of Dr. John R. Sutton, contains four main subheadings related to the conference theme of membranes, muscle, and exercise. PURPOSE: The purpose is to present a number of invited presentations at the 10th International Conference on the Biochemistry of Exercise. AUDIENCE: While not designed as a textbook, it will make a useful handbook for scientists and students alike. FEATURES: The first section on signaling contains four chapters on topics ranging from intracellular insulin signaling in skeletal muscle and sympathoadrenergic regulation of substrate metabolism during exercise to regional blood flow and functional vascular shunts. Also included in this section is a chapter addressing the role of diet and exercise on muscle membranes. The next major section (seven chapters) is entitled “Excitation-Contraction.” Several of the chapters are focused on the possible mechanisms associated with muscle fatigue including factors such as calcium kinetics, muscle acidity, inorganic phosphate accumulation, nitric oxide derivatives, ATPase activity, and oxidative stress. Other chapters pertain to the role of the Na+ K+ pump in muscle during exercise as well as energy conversion and efficiency during locomotion. The following section covers various aspects of metabolism (eight chapters). Carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism are discussed. For carbohydrate metabolism, special attention is given to the mechanisms of glucose transport, skeletal muscle transporters, lactate exchange, and overall regulation during exercise. In regard to fat metabolism, two chapters pertaining to the regulation of fat oxidation during exercise as well as fatty acid transport and uptake by muscle are included. Single chapters exist addressing muscle amino acid transport and metabolism, and the metabolic basis of fatigue in muscle during exercise. The final section (four chapters) relates to adaptation. How exercise training alters gene expression in skeletal muscle including fiber type specificity and potential signaling is discussed in the initial chapter of this section. Next, a chapter dealing with the training-induced alterations related to vascular remodeling is presented. This is followed by a chapter addressing the role of contractile activity and neural factors on the regulation of glucose transporters in skeletal muscle. The final chapter concerns the fiber specific adaptive response of stress proteins to exercise stimulation in muscle. ASSESSMENT: This book is impressive in both its breath of content related to skeletal muscle and exercise as well as in the quality of authors contributing chapters. SCORE: Weighted Numerical Score: 68-**