Molecule Tricks Muscles into Using More Energy

This study shows a direct relationship between sarcolipin and energy metabolism,” says Muthu Periasamy, Ph.D., senior author of the paper and professor at SBP Lake Nona. “This mechanism is intrinsic to muscle and generates heat at the expense of fat burning.” Two factors increase energy expenditure in muscle—exercise and cold. When either happens, muscle cells intensify calcium cycling and recruit SERCA to move calcium ions into the sarcoplasmic reticulum, a structure within muscle cells that balances calcium levels. This process uses a lot of (ATP) energy because SERCA relies on ATP to move calcium. When sarcolipin binds to SERCA, it uncouples SERCA activity. As a result, it allows ATP consumption but not efficient calcium transport, which causes more energy consumption. The net result is more heat and fat burning. “When you exercise, your muscle makes more mitochondria and oxidizes more fat,” says Periasamy. “Sarcolipin is the missing link. It’s recruited during exercise or cold exposure and alters calcium cycling to increase mitochondria biogenesis and fat burning.” https://www.technologynetworks.com/proteomics/news/molecule-tricks-muscles-into-using-more-energy-309425?utm_campaign=Newsletter_TN_BreakingScienceNews&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=65858443&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9jqOwssMElhLJJKvP_dYLOH7r3rX_EYUkb08xnQfp4KSaGcOG_29yyzKGrbkPsxWMjlecFpKky7yK91UbB_vVpg8dHtw&_hsmi=65858443