We examined the response of net muscle protein synthesis to ingestion of amino acids after a bout of resistance exercise. A primed, constant infusion ofl-[ ring-2H5]phenylalanine was used to measure net muscle protein balance in three male and three female volunteers on three occasions. Subjects consumed in random order 1 liter of 1) a mixed amino acid (40 g) solution (MAA), 2) an essential amino acid (40 g) solution (EAA), and 3) a placebo solution (PLA). Arterial amino acid concentrations increased ∼150–640% above baseline during ingestion of MAA and EAA. Net muscle protein balance was significantly increased from negative during PLA ingestion (−50 ± 23 nmol ⋅ min−1 ⋅ 100 ml leg volume−1) to positive during MAA ingestion (17 ± 13 nmol ⋅ min−1 ⋅ 100 ml leg volume−1) and EAA (29 ± 14 nmol ⋅ min−1 ⋅ 100 ml leg volume−1; P < 0.05). Because net balance was similar for MAA and EAA, it does not appear necessary to include nonessential amino acids in a formulation designed to elicit an anabolic response from muscle after exercise. We concluded that ingestion of oral essential amino acids results in a change from net muscle protein degradation to net muscle protein synthesis after heavy resistance exercise in humans similar to that seen when the amino acids were infused.

Testosterone administration (T) increases lean body mass and muscle protein synthesis. We investigated the effects of short-term T on leg muscle protein kinetics and transport of selected amino acids by use of a model based on arteriovenous sampling and muscle biopsy. Fractional synthesis (FSR) and breakdown (FBR) rates of skeletal muscle protein were also directly calculated. Seven healthy men were studied before and 5 days after intramuscular injection of 200 mg of testosterone enanthate. Protein synthesis increased twofold after injection ( P < 0.05), whereas protein breakdown was unchanged. FSR and FBR calculations were in accordance, because FSR increased twofold ( P < 0.05) without a concomitant change in FBR. Net balance between synthesis and breakdown became more positive with both methodologies ( P< 0.05) and was not different from zero. T injection increased arteriovenous essential and nonessential nitrogen balance across the leg ( P < 0.05) in the fasted state, without increasing amino acid transport. Thus T administration leads to an increased net protein synthesis and reutilization of intracellular amino acids in skeletal muscle.

We have measured skin and muscle protein kinetics and amino acid (AA) transport in anesthetized rabbits during 1) 64-h fast, 2) AA infusion, 3) AA plus fat emulsion infusion, and 4) AA plus hyperinsulinemia.l-[ ring-13C6]phenylalanine was infused as the tracer, and the ear and hindlimb were used as arteriovenous units to reflect skin and muscle protein kinetics, respectively. Skin protein net balance was not different from zero in all groups, indicating a maintenance of protein mass. In contrast, the muscle net balance differed over a range from −1.6 ± 0.6 after fasting to 0.2 ± 0.2 μmol ⋅ 100 g−1 ⋅ h−1during hyperinsulinemia. In the skin, 59–66% of intracellular free phenylalanine came from proteolysis, and phenylalanine availability from proteolysis was positively correlated to the protein synthesis rate. In conclusion, normal skin maintains its constant protein mass by efficient reutilization of AAs from proteolysis. In contrast to muscle, skin protein is relatively insensitive to control by nutritional and hormonal factors. Because of the metabolic differences, when limb models are used for muscle protein metabolism, the potential contribution by limb skin should be considered.

A series of bimetallic zinc complexes bearing salicylaldiminato (1b-3b) or anilido-aldimine (4c-5c) ligand frameworks, in which the metal centres are separated by aliphatic spacer groups containing 3-6 methylene units, were targeted. X-Ray analysis of salicylaldiminato derivative 2b, with a 4 carbon spacer group, revealed a coordination polymer in the solid state where each zinc centre is ligated by two salicylaldiminato ligands. Contrastingly, the structure of the anilido-aldimine complex 4c, with a 3 carbon methylene spacer group, was found to be a discrete bimetallic complex. These differences are attributed to the differing steric protection at the anilido vs phenoxy donors, the latter more readily facilitating bridges between metal centres.

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