Muscle Protein Synthesis (MPS) is the fundamental biological process of creating new contractile proteins within muscle fibers from available amino acid precursors. This anabolic process is essential for muscle repair, adaptation, and growth, representing the positive side of the muscle protein turnover equation. Maintaining a net positive balance of MPS over Muscle Protein Breakdown (MPB) is crucial for preserving lean body mass, particularly in the context of aging and recovery.
Origin
The concept is a core tenet of exercise physiology and nutritional science, gaining prominence with the use of tracer techniques to measure protein turnover rates in the late 20th century. Synthesis derives from the Greek synthesis (a placing together), accurately describing the constructive nature of the process.
Mechanism
MPS is primarily stimulated by two factors: the ingestion of essential amino acids, particularly leucine, and mechanical tension induced by resistance exercise. This stimulus activates the mTOR signaling pathway, which then upregulates the translation machinery within the muscle cell. Anabolic hormones like testosterone, growth hormone, and insulin significantly amplify this signaling cascade, thereby accelerating the rate of new protein construction.
Dietary amino acids, particularly leucine, directly initiate anabolic signaling, but its true significance depends on a permissive hormonal environment.
Amino acids provide the essential building blocks that testosterone replacement therapy uses to efficiently build muscle and modulate hormonal signaling.
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