Filtering by
- Creators: School of Molecular Sciences
- Resource Type: Text
Over 40% of adults in the United States are considered obese. Obesity is known to cause abnormal metabolic effects and lead to other negative health consequences. Interestingly, differences in metabolism and contractile performance between obese and healthy weight individuals are associated with differences in skeletal muscle fiber type composition between these groups. Each fiber type is characterized by unique metabolic and contractile properties, which are largely determined by the myosin heavy chain isoform (MHC) or isoform combination that the fiber expresses. In previous studies, SDS-PAGE single fiber analysis has been utilized as a method to determine MHC isoform distribution and single fiber type distribution in skeletal muscle. Herein, a methodological approach to analyze MHC isoform and fiber type distribution in skeletal muscle was fine-tuned for use in human and rodent studies. In the future, this revised methodology will be implemented to evaluate the effects of obesity and exercise on the phenotypic fiber type composition of skeletal muscle.
This pilot study aimed to ascertain the potential for keto acid supplementation in the attempt to supply adequate protein building blocks to healthy populations, with the caveats that said supplementation 1) would utilize non-synthetic methods, 2) offer an alternative to high-phosphate protein supplies such as ruminant animals, and 3) reverse the ill effects of ammonia load by reducing nitrogen intake and consuming ammonia as a fuel for the process of protein synthesis. This proposed solution turns to orange juice and certain varietals of potato juice for their familiarity to consumers, innate nutritional values, and potential for mass-production by many existing companies. The work contained here represents the first phase of experimentation: qualifying the presence of α-keto-analogues of amino acids in these types of produce which, with transamination, could yield the amino acids necessary for adequate protein intake.
Results suggest that these juices do not contain adequate α-keto-analogs of amino acids to supplement proteins in either healthy or ill individuals.