Eat the meat or feed the meat: protein turnover in remodeling muscle

Abstract

The present review outlines the role of muscle protein turnover in muscle remodeling, with emphasis on the effects of nutrition and exercise. Progress in our understanding of the pathways signaling and regulating protein synthesis and degradation, and thus protein turnover, in skeletal muscle has been substantial over the past decade. Protein synthesis and degradation jointly allow the active remodeling of skeletal muscle to adapt to changes in mechanical and metabolic demand. Nutrition and exercise are potent ways to stimulate protein turnover. This occurs in an amino acid and exercise-type (resistance versus endurance) and mode (lengthening and shortening)-specific manner. For optimal muscle remodeling, the timing and type of feeding and exercise appear to be crucial.