Science Signaling Podcast: 27 March 2012

David J. Glass¹ and Annalisa M. VanHook²

¹ Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, 100 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
² Web Editor, Science Signaling, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1200 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005, USA.

Abstract: This Podcast features a conversation with the author of Research Articles published in the 14 February 2012 and 29 November 2011 issues of Science Signaling. David Glass discusses how protein synthesis is regulated in muscles in the contexts of both hypertrophy and atrophy. The changes in muscle mass that characterize hypertrophy and atrophy are caused by changes in protein production and degradation rather than changes in cell number. Research by Glass’s group has demonstrated that signaling through the G protein Gα_i2 promotes hypertrophy and regeneration and inhibits atrophy. They also found that the kinase MNK2 promotes atrophy by inhibiting protein translation through two mechanisms, one of which involves the target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway.

The editors suggest the following Related Resources on Science sites:

In Science Signaling

EDITORS' CHOICE
Physiology
One Gene, Two Paths to Muscle Fitness

Leslie K. Ferrarelli (1 January 2013)
Sci. Signal. 6 (256), ec1. [DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.2003914]
 |  Abstract »

EDITORIAL GUIDES
Cell Biology
Focus Issue: TOR Signaling, a Tale of Two Complexes

Nancy R. Gough (27 March 2012)
Sci. Signal. 5 (217), eg4. [DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.2003044]
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »

RESEARCH ARTICLES
Physiology
MNK2 Inhibits eIF4G Activation Through a Pathway Involving Serine-Arginine–Rich Protein Kinase in Skeletal Muscle

Shou-Ih Hu, Mark Katz, Sherry Chin, Xiaoqing Qi, Joseph Cruz, Chikwendu Ibebunjo, Shanchuan Zhao, Amy Chen, and David J. Glass (14 February 2012)
Sci. Signal. 5 (211), ra14. [DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.2002466]
 |  Editor's Summary »  |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »  |  Supplementary Materials »

PERSPECTIVES
Physiology
Making Muscles Grow by G Protein–Coupled Receptor Signaling

Denis C. Guttridge (29 November 2011)
Sci. Signal. 4 (201), pe45. [DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.2002670]
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »

RESEARCH ARTICLES
Physiology
Gα_i2 Signaling Promotes Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy, Myoblast Differentiation, and Muscle Regeneration

Giulia C. Minetti, Jerome N. Feige, Antonia Rosenstiel, Florian Bombard, Viktor Meier, Annick Werner, Frederic Bassilana, Andreas W. Sailer, Peter Kahle, Christian Lambert, David J. Glass, and Mara Fornaro (29 November 2011)
Sci. Signal. 4 (201), ra80. [DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.2002038]
 |  Editor's Summary »  |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »  |  Supplementary Materials »