Is it possible to maintain muscle strength and health as we age, reduce the risks of diabetes and sarcopenia, or prolong an active lifestyle?
Scientists have discovered a special molecule that becomes active during exercise and helps muscles maintain their energy and endurance. This finding is particularly promising for individuals who are unable to exercise. For them, it may be possible to develop drugs or methods that mimic the effects of exercise.
A small molecule discovered in muscles, named SLIRP, is crucial for energy production. When this molecule doesn’t function correctly, muscles weaken and lose vitality.
SLIRP is a specialized protein that ensures the stability of mitochondrial genetic information within muscle cells. It facilitates the correct and timely synthesis of proteins essential for energy production. A deficiency in SLIRP leads to structural and functional impairments in mitochondria, resulting in muscle weakness and rapid fatigue.
Research has shown that exercise increases SLIRP levels in muscles and improves mitochondrial function, even in cases of genetic disorders. Scientists hypothesize that this discovery could open new avenues in the treatment of conditions such as age-related muscle weakening (sarcopenia) and type 2 diabetes, diseases linked to impaired mitochondrial function.
“Exercise is the most effective way to preserve muscles. Our results show that activating SLIRP and related mitochondrial proteins could, in the future, help individuals who are unable to exercise,” says lead author, Dr. Luke Sylow.
The research was conducted on flies and mice at this stage, but the results are promising in the fight against sarcopenia and other muscle degenerative diseases.
Reference
Sylow, L., Laustsen, L., Fritzen, A. M., Brandt, N., Jensen, T. E., & Richter, E. A. (2024). The mitochondrial mRNA-stabilizing protein SLIRP regulates skeletal muscle mitochondrial structure and respiration by exercise-recoverable mechanisms. Nature Communications, 15, 9826.
