Mechanisms of regulation of skeletal muscle mass and metabolism

骨骼肌除了参与运动外，还发挥着重要作用，正如肌肉质量/质量/功能次优时出现的无数问题所证明的那样。肌肉是全身利用和营养物质如蛋白质、碳水化合物和脂质代谢的主要贡献者。我的研究计划的总体重点是对我们食物中的营养素及其代谢产物在正常条件下调节肌肉质量和健康的机制的基本理解，以及在肌肉疾病的情况下我们饮食中的营养素（称为氨基酸）可以控制我们肌肉的重量，但我们不知道它们是谁工作。我们的研究项目中的研究表明，这些氨基酸中的一些的分解可以调节肌肉细胞的形成。在未来5年的研究计划中，我们将试图了解为什么以及如何工作。我们将实现这些目标：1.检查肌肉细胞形成时控制氨基酸催化剂的酶的调节机制。 2.研究调节肌肉细胞形成的因素是否也控制氨基酸的分解。 3.检查分解氨基酸的酶是否也控制肌肉细胞的形成。 4.研究当肌肉受损或肌肉质量因其他原因减少时，是否需要这些酶的作用来修复肌肉。 我们将使用新的方法和技术的组合来研究这些主题。 由于缺乏关于我们摄入的营养物质如何用于调节肌肉质量的信息而存在的知识差距限制了我们对身体工作方式的理解。我们的工作将有助于弥合这一差距。我们的工作结果也可以帮助加拿大人谁想要获得更多的知识，如何保持他们的肌肉在良好的状态和更长的时间，以及如何帮助他们的肌肉变得更好，如果肌肉损伤发生。在我的实验室的研究有助于培养高素质的人才：在过去的6年里，我已经培养了19个，目前正在培养2个这样的人，包括本科生和研究生。其中一些人已经成为成功的研究人员;其他人在不同的行业工作，从而为加拿大的科学和经济发展做出贡献。我实施的举措将有助于消除准入障碍，并促进招聘，保留和个人的发展，以便为尽可能多的合格加拿大人敞开大门。在未来5年内，我的研究项目将培养至少18名高素质的人才，为加拿大的科学和经济发展做出贡献。

Skeletal muscles play vital roles additional to their involvement in movement, as demonstrated by myriads of problems that develop when muscle mass/quality/functions are suboptimal. Muscles are a major contributor to whole body utilization and metabolism of nutrients like proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. The overall focus of my research program is the basic understanding of the mechanisms by which nutrients in our foods and their metabolites regulate muscle mass and wellbeing under normal conditions, as well as in situations of muscle disorders Nutrients in our diets (called amino acids) can control the weight of our muscles but we do not know who they work. Studies in our research program suggest that breakdown of some of these amino acids may regulate formation of muscle cells. In the next 5 years of my research program, we will seek to understand why and how this works. We will carry out these objectives: 1.Examine mechanisms of regulation of the enzymes that control amino acid catabolism when muscle cells are formed. 2.Study whether factors that regulate formation of muscle cells also control breakdown of amino acids. 3.Examine if the enzymes that break down amino acids also control formation of muscle cells. 4.Study whether, when muscles are damaged or muscle mass diminishes because of other reasons, the actions of these enzymes are needed to repair muscle. We will use a combination of novel approaches and techniques to examine those topics. The knowledge gap that exists because of a lack of information on how nutrients we consume are used to regulate the mass of our muscles puts a limit on our understanding of the way our body works. Our work will help to bridge this gap. Results of our work may also help Canadians who want to gain more knowledge about how to keep their muscles in good condition and for much longer, and how to help their muscles get better if muscle damage happens. Research in my laboratory helps to train high quality personnel: in the last 6 years, I have trained 19 and am currently training 2 of such people, including undergraduate and graduate students. Some of these have gone on to become successful researchers; others are working in diverse industries, thus contributing to scientific and economic developments of Canada. I implement initiatives that will help to remove barriers to access and to promote recruitment, retention, and development of individuals in such a way as to open doors for as many qualified Canadians as possible. In the next 5 years, my research program will train at least 18 more high quality personnel that will contribute to science and economic developments of Canada.