Peter C. Bates

FACTORS AFFECTING PROTEIN BREAKDOWN IN SKELETAL MUSCLE

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on factors affecting the protein breakdown in skeletal muscle. Rates of protein breakdown have been determined in various skeletal muscles in the steady state and in anabolic and catabolic non-steady-state conditions. Protein breakdown was increased in muscle during anabolic and catabolic situations. The rate of protein breakdown in muscle fell when growth was interrupted by feeding a protein-free, low-protein, or low-energy diet, as well as in diabetic or hypophysectomized rats. Skeletal muscle is not a homogenous tissue. It has been known for some time that the rates of protein turnover are faster in cardiac and red tonic muscles than in white the phasic muscles. Although, the actual turnover rate of all three muscles tends to be faster in the fowl than the rat, perhaps reflecting the somewhat higher body temperature of the birds, the relative turnover rate of the PLD and heart is very similar to that of the white muscles and heart in the rat.