MITOGEN ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE SIGNALING IN MOUSE SKELETAL
MUSCLE
By
Natalie Maria Pizzimenti

A THESIS
Submitted to
Michigan State University
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of
Physiology –Masters of Science
2014

ABSTRACT
MITOGEN ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE SIGNALING IN MOUSE SKELETAL
MUSCLE
By
Natalie Maria Pizzimenti
AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) and p38 mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are
activated during exercise and thought to be involved in mitochondrial biogenesis through
activation of PGC-1α. AMPK is activated through an increase in AMP (Hardie et al. 1998)
however the activation mechanisms of the isoforms of p38 MAPK are currently unknown in
skeletal muscle. It is hypothesized that exercise induced energetic drain induces phosphorylation
of AMPK specifically leading to downstream phosphorylation of the p38γ MAPK isoform.
Inhibitors of the two major ATPases suggest that energetic drain, not calcium cycling or force
production, leads to the phosphorylation of p38γ MAPK. Direct activation of AMPK using
AICAR revealed AMPK is insufficient to significantly activate p38γ MAPK. 2-deoxyglucose
had no effect on the activation of either AMPK or p38γ MAPK. Further studies need to be
conducted to determine the signaling pathway for activation of mitochondrial biogenesis.

To my loved ones.

iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank Dr. Bob Wiseman for guiding me through my master’s research and always
encouraging me to attain my full potential. I look forward to working more with him in the
future. I would like to thank my committee members Dr. Ron Meyer, Dr. Jeff Brault, and Dr.
Nara Parameswaran for their advice and assistance in this research presented. Finally, I would
like to acknowledge the physiology staff and students who helped with furthering my education
and helping me to become a better scientist.

iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................................... vii
LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................... viii
KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS...................................................................................................... ix
INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................1
Structure of Skeletal Muscle ........................................................................................................1
Muscle Fiber Types ......................................................................................................................2
Contraction in Skeletal Muscle ....................................................................................................3
Cell Signaling and Mitochondrial Biogenesis ..............................................................................4
Structure and Mechanisms of p38 MAPK and AMPK ................................................................7
Specific Aim I: Signaling Mechanisms of the p38 MAPKs ........................................................8
Specific Aim II: Inhibition of AMPK ..........................................................................................8
Specific Aim III: Synthetic Activation of AMPK ........................................................................9
Specific Aim IV: Isolation of Energetic Drain.............................................................................9
METHODS ...................................................................................................................................11
Materials and Animals ...............................................................................................................11
Isolated Muscle Preparations .....................................................................................................12
Metabolite Analysis....................................................................................................................14
Western Blot Analysis ................................................................................................................15
Statistics .....................................................................................................................................16
RESULTS .....................................................................................................................................19
Specific Aim I: Signaling Mechanisms of the p38 MAPKs ......................................................19
Inhibition of SERCA by CPA ............................................................................................19
Specific Inhibitor Effects on Contractile Performance ......................................................19
HPLC .................................................................................................................................20
Phosphorylation of MAPK Isoforms by Western Blot Analysis .......................................21
Specific Aim II: Inhibition of AMPK ........................................................................................33
Specific Aim III: Synthetic Activation of AMPK ......................................................................36
v

Specific Aim IV: Isolation of Energetic Drain...........................................................................40
DISCUSSION ...............................................................................................................................43
CONTINUED RESEARCH ........................................................................................................48
BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................................50

vi

LIST OF TABLES

Table I. Muscle Twitch Characteristics .........................................................................................24
Table II. Treatment Effects on Metabolite During Fatigue Protocol .............................................28

vii

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Myofibril Structure .........................................................................................................10
Figure 2. Treatment Timelines .......................................................................................................17
Figure 3. CPA Dose Response Curve ............................................................................................23
Figure 4. Treatment Effects on Twitch Characteristics .................................................................25
Figure 5. Treatment Effects on Fatigue Protocol ...........................................................................26
Figure 6. Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography Chromatograms........................................27
Figure 7. Phosphorylation Change of the MAPK Isoforms During Rest and Stimulation ............29
Figure 8. Phosphorylation Change of the MAPK Isoforms During Stimulation with DMSO or
BTS Treatment ...............................................................................................................................30
Figure 9. Phosphorylation Change of the MAPK Isoforms During Stimulation with DMSO or
CPA Treatment ..............................................................................................................................31
Figure 10. Phosphorylation Change of the MAPK Isoforms During Stimulation with BTS or
BTS+CPA ......................................................................................................................................32
Figure 11. Compound C Dose Response Curve Effects on the Phosphorylation of AMPK .........34
Figure 12. Compound C Dose Response Curve Effects on the Phosphorylation of ACC ............35
Figure 13. Effects of AICAR on the Phosphorylation of AMPK ..................................................37
Figure 14. Effects of AICAR on the Phosphorylation of ACC .....................................................38
Figure 15. Effects of AICAR on the Phosphorylation of p38γ MAPK .........................................39
Figure 16. Effects of 2-Deoxyglucose on the Phosphorylation of AMPK ....................................41
Figure 17. Effects of 2-Deoxyglucose on the Phosphorylation of p38γ MAPK ...........................42
viii

KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS

MAPK

mitogen activated protein kinase

AMPK

AMPK activated protein kinase

PGC-1α

Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1 Alpha

CPA

cyclopiazonic acid

BTS

N-benzyl-p-toluene

AICAR

5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide

DG

2-Deoxyglucose

ix

INTRODUCTION
Exercise causes beneficial adaptations to the body by increasing its performance ability. One of
these adaptations is an increase in aerobic capacity through mitochondrial biogenesis, increasing
both the size and the number of mitochondria in the muscle. Currently, physiological aspects of
exercise that initiates mitochondrial biogenesis are not well understood. In order to further gain
understanding of the mitochondrial biogenesis signaling pathways, a basic understanding of
skeletal muscle structure and function is needed.
Structure of Skeletal Muscle
Skeletal muscle is used in everyday activity and provides support via their connection to the
skeleton by tendons. Every muscle fiber is bound together by the sarcolemma or the cell
membrane of the muscle cells. Fibers are multinucleated, with the nuclei located along the outer
edge of each cell. About 70% of the muscle cell mass is composed of the contractile unit or the
myofibril. The myofibrils are composed of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and the transverse
tubules. Myofibrils are arranged in repeating units termed the sarcomere, which extends from zline to z-line (Elizabeth M. McNally, Karen A. Lapidos 2006) (Figure 1).
The thick and thin filaments are what allows the shortening of a skeletal muscle myofibril and
allow force production. The thick filaments, multi-molecular aggregates of myosin, are
connected to form the M-line. Myosin is composed of two heavy chains and four light chains.
The thin filaments are composed of two chains of actin that intertwine in order to form an open
double-stranded helix. The grooves of the helix have tropomyosin bound to troponin in the
resting state of the muscle. When bound to tropomyosin, there is inhibition of the actin-induced
stimulation of Magnesium-ATP hydrolysis. The thin filaments are anchored to the z-line, of

1

which were defined above as where each sarcomere begins and ends (McNally et al. 2006)
(Figure 1).
Muscle Fiber Types
Myofibers can be classified into four different compositions based on their myosin heavy chain
isoform. The compositions are: type I, type IIa, type IIb, and type IIx fibers. Type I and IIa use
oxidative metabolism where types IIx and IIb are primarily glycolytic. Type I myofibres, or
slow-twitch, are rich in mitochondria and have more capillaries surrounding each fiber. They
have slow contraction with low shortening velocity, yet they have a higher resistance to fatigue.
Slow-twitch oxidative fibers are typically postural muscles. Type IIa fibers, a fast-twitch
phenotype, have a rapid shortening rate but fatigue more quickly than type I fibers. Both type
IIx and IIb glycolytic fibres are capable of exerting a high amount of force over a shorter amount
of time, but they fatigue quickly due to low vascularization and mitochondrial content (BasselDuby & Olson 2006).
There are also differences in the ryanodine parvalbumin and the sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium
ATPase (SERCA) between the fiber types (Bassel-Duby & Olson 2006). Ryanodine receptors
are channels on the sarcoplasmic reticulum that release calcium down its concentration gradient.
Fast-twitch muscles have a faster acting ryanodine receptor (RYR1), which is what allows them
to have a more rapid contraction time. SERCA is an ATPase which restores the calcium ions
back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in order to maintain the concentration gradient after
contraction. Parvalbumin, in fast-twitch muscles in smaller mammals, is a protein that buffers
calcium levels and shortens contraction time. Slow-twitch muscles have a longer contraction
time due to their slower ryanodine receptors and SERCA subtypes. In addition, they do not have

2

parvalbumin to assist in the relaxation of the contraction through buffering the cytosolic calcium
ions (Heizmann et al. 1982).
Contraction in Skeletal Muscle
Skeletal muscle contractions are occurring constantly to assist through the everyday tasks of life.
A contraction begins with the activation of a motor unit by the central nervous system. Each
motor unit innervates one or more skeletal muscle fibers. Motor unit recruitment happens
sequentially (Fuglevand 2011). The size of the motor neuron is determined by the type of
muscle it innervates. Slow fibers are innervated by small, slow conducting, low threshold units;
whereas fast fibers are innervated by fast conducting, large units. The size of the motor unit
determines the threshold of the neuron and its function (Henneman & Olson 1965). The final
force production of the muscle is determined by which motor units were activated. Individual
motor units are activated with an increase of sodium ions that cause depolarization of the neuron
(MacIntosh & Shahi 2011). This depolarization, or action potential, travels down the length of
the axon into the transverse tubules. The excitation spreads longitudinally along the sarcolemma
and travels inwards toward each z-line by the transverse tubules, which are invaginations of the
sarcolemma. Sodium floods the transverse tubules that are coupled to the sarcoplasmic
reticulum by tight contact with the membrane and the terminal cisternae. The transverse tubules
induce a conformational change to the dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR), a voltage-gated
calcium channel. The DHPR cause an increase in permeability of the SR, via the ryanodine
receptors, allowing calcium to flow out and flood the cytoplasm. The rise in the calcium
concentration activates the troponin-inhibited contractile units on the thin filaments, allowing a
conformational change that exposes the myosin binding site for the thick filaments. The myosin

3

heads are able to bind, hydrolyze ATP and shorten to produce force. This bond is broken once
the myosin head binds another ATP molecule (MacIntosh & Shahi 2011; Huang et al. 2011).
The actinomyosin ATPase is considered to be one of the two major ATPases in skeletal muscle
during contraction (MacIntosh et al. 2012). There is successive activation of the sarcomeres in
order to ensure that there is a wave of contraction that passes along the muscle. Sarcomeres
cannot contract simultaneously due to their connecting z-lines, otherwise they would be pulled
equally in opposite distances (McNally et al. 2006). Finally, the increase of calcium in the
cytosol causes SERCA to be turned on and pump calcium back into the SR. SERCA is the other
of the two major ATPases used during contraction, requiring ATP to pump calcium against its
concentration gradient back into the SR. Once the cytosolic calcium concentration is at 10-7 M,
all the calcium is back in the SR and stimulation ceases (MacIntosh et al. 2012).
Cell Signaling and Mitochondrial Biogenesis
Exercise has well known benefits that affect all organs in the body. It has shown to be beneficial
in both states of health and disease. Some benefits of exercise include a reduced risk for
cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders such as Type II diabetes, hypertension, muscle, bone
and joint disease, and depression (Vina et al. 2012). Normally in healthy muscle, modifications
are occurring in a feedback loop in order to improve exercise performance. Some of the
adaptations occurring in skeletal muscle include an increase in aerobic capacity, fiber-type
transformation, increased sensitivity to insulin, and muscle hypertrophy (Vina et al. 2012).
The focus of this study is the signaling pathway for mitochondrial biogenesis which allows an
increase in aerobic capacity (Booth et al. 2002). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor(PPAR) co-activator 1α (PGC-1α) is a transcriptional co-activator that is a marker of
mitochondrial biogenesis (Wu et al. 1999). PGC-1α, once activated, is trans-located into the
4

nucleus and induces activation of transcription factors such as mitochondrial transcription factor
A (TFAM), and nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF-1) and 2 (Wu et al. 1999; Hoppeler & Fluck
2003). These signaling mechanisms leading to mitochondrial biogenesis are well described, yet
what physiological aspect of exercise induces activation of PGC-1α is still unclear.
Signaling pathways associated with mitochondrial biogenesis and the activation of PGC-1α are
calcium/calmodulin dependent kinase (CaMK) IV, force production, AMP activated protein
kinase (AMPK), and p38 mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) (Chin 2004; Pogozelski et
al. 2009; Winder et al. 2013; Csukly et al. 2002). An increase in intracellular calcium levels has
been associated with mitochondrial biogenesis through PGC-1α, possibly through the CaMK
pathway. Ojuka et al. show in L6 myotubes that by increasing levels of intracellular calcium
with caffeine there is an increase in the expression of PGC-1α. Dantrolene treatment, which
blocks calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, blunts the increase in the expression of
PGC-1α (Ojuka et al. 2003). However, there were no other measurements of potential activation
(such as energetic demand) in their study. Caffeine treatment causes calcium concentrations to
be increased in the cytosol. Calcium will then bind to troponin causing a conformational change
in actin and allowing myosin heads to bind. This has activated the actinomyosin ATPase. Along
with the previous, SERCA will be turned on in order to pump calcium back into the SR.
Therefore, the caffeine experiments did not isolate calcium signaling from energetic drain or
from tension of the muscle cells. When calcium is not in the cytosol with the dantrolene
experiments, there is neither activation of the actinomyosin ATPase nor the need for SERCA to
be turned on to pump calcium back into the SR. These muscle cells are essentially in a resting
state, and there is no change in the energetics. The energetic state of the myotubes was not taken

5

into consideration during these experiments and could have played a role in the expression levels
of PGC-1α.
The p38 MAPK isoforms have been associated with PGC-1α and mitochondrial biogenesis via
an increase in activation/phosphorylation with exercise (Puigserver et al. 2001; Akimoto et al.
2005). One of the mechanisms thought to induce activation of the of p38 MAPKs was force
production (Csukly et al. 2002; Ryder 2000). Ryder et al. looked at muscle contraction
independent of surrounding tissues or systemic factors. Rat epitrochlearis were incubated in
tissue baths, and stimulated every 60 seconds for 10 minutes. Their results show that there is an
increase in the activation of p38 MAPK (Ryder 2000). The Wiseman lab previously dissociated
the connection between force production and the increase in phosphorylation/activation of the
p38 MAPKs (Dentel et al. 2005). They show this by using N-benzyl-p-toluene (BTS), an
inhibitor of the actinomyosin ATPase. BTS allows for calcium to still be released into the
cytoplasm, but there is no force production. There is no change in the phosphorylation state of
the p38 MAPKs with BTS during stimulation in comparison to control, suggesting force
production is not the mechanism of activation (Dentel et al. 2005). The previous studies
showing force production induces activation did not consider the other physiologic events that
occur during contraction, such as calcium cycling, actinomyosin cross-bridge cycling, and
energetic demand.
Finally, AMPK has been linked to mitochondrial biogenesis through PGC-1α (Jäger et al. 2007;
Winder et al. 2013; Frier et al. 2012). Jäger et al. show in primary muscle cells that incubation
with 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR), a synthetic activator of AMPK,
causes an increase in PGC-1α mRNA and mitochondrial enzymes. They also make in vivo
measurements with 6 hour incubations of AICAR injections in mice. This result shows an
6

increase in PGC-1α mRNA and cytochrome c expression suggesting mitochondrial biogenesis
has occurred through activation of AMPK (Jäger et al. 2007).
Structure and Mechanisms of p38 MAPKs and AMPK
There are four isoforms of p38 MAPK expressed in skeletal muscle: α, β, γ, and δ (Hu 1999;
Keesler et al. 1998). Each of the isoforms has distinct roles and respective locations throughout
the body, with γ being most predominant in skeletal muscle (Cuenda & Rousseau 2007). The
activation mechanisms of the p38 MAPKs is through dual phosphorylation of conserved ThrGly-Tyr (Cuadrado & Nebreda 2010). Selective activation of the isoforms of p38 MAPK can be
done through formation of functional complexes between the isoforms and their upstream
kinases, MAPK kinase-3, MAPK kinase-4, and MAPK kinase-6 (MKK3, MKK4, and MKK6)
(Enslen et al. 2000; Keesler et al. 1998). MKK6 can phosphorylate all of the p38 isoforms, but
MKK3 can only phosphorylate p38α and γ, not β. The p38 MAPKs become fully activated
through dual phosphorylation at residues Thr180 and Tyr182, within the T-loop. Activation is
dependent upon the kinase; MKK3 can phosphorylate only Thr180 whereas MKK6
phosphorylates both Thr180 and Tyr182 (Morrison & Davis 2003; Wang 1998).
AMPK is a heterotrimeric complex with an α catalytic subunit and two regulatory subunits, β
and γ (Hardie et al. 1998). There are 12 different combinations of the complex, but there is one
predominate configuration located in skeletal muscle which is composed of α2, β2, and γ3
(Mahlapuu et al. 2004). AMP can activate AMPK through multiple mechanisms: allosteric
binding to AMPK, allosteric binding to AMPKK, and binding to AMPK in order to make it a
better substrate for AMPKK binding (Hardie et al. 1998). This is done through phosphorylation
of the threonine residue 172. Binding of AMP to this residue inhibits phosphatase activity,

7

whereas high concentrations of ATP inhibit phosphorylation/activation of AMPK (Long &
Zierath 2006).
In skeletal muscle, the activation site of AMPK for both exercise and AICAR is through the α2
subunit (Jørgensen et al. 2004). This is shown by Jorgensen et al. through specific knockout
mice of both the α1 and α2 subunit. With either electrical stimulation or incubation of AICAR,
AMPK activation is ablated with the α2 subunit knockout, but not the α1 knockout. This suggests
that both exercise and AICAR activate the same α isoform and through a similar mechanism.
Specific Aim I: Signaling Mechanisms of the p38 MAPKs
It was hypothesized that energetic stress induced through exercise leads to activation of the p38
MAPKs. To determine whether energetic stress has a role in activating the p38 MAPKs, the two
major ATPases were inhibited individually and together. The two major ATPases in skeletal
muscle, SERCA and actinomyosin, are responsible for about 97% of the energetic drain during
contraction (MacIntosh et al. 2012). The inhibition of the actinomyosin ATPase by BTS, was
shown to have no effect on the activation state of the p38 MAPKs (Dentel et al. 2005). With the
use of CPA, an inhibitor of SERCA, calcium uptake is inhibited and high concentrations of
calcium remain in the cytosol. This result will reveal if there is a connection to p38 MAPK
activation and calcium cycling. The inhibitors in combination will inhibit the two major
ATPases, which are responsible for about 97% of energetic drain in skeletal muscle during
stimulation. This will test if energetic stress can induce activation of the p38 MAPK isoforms.
Specific Aim II: Inhibition of AMPK
If p38 MAPK is proven to be activated through an increase in energetic demand, then the next
logical step would be to see if there is a correlation between AMPK and p38 MAPK. It was
8

hypothesized that inhibition of AMPK during stimulation would blunt phosphorylation of p38
MAPK. Compound c can be used to inhibit AMPK in rats during contraction (Funai & Cartee
2009). Once a dose response curve has been created to demonstrate that compound c functions
in mouse skeletal muscle, than the inhibitor can be used to determine if AMPK can induce
activation of p38 MAPK.
Specific Aim III: Synthetic Activation of AMPK
AICAR can be used in order to synthetically activate AMPK in a resting muscle (Corton et al.
1995); this is essential since there are no other contributing physiologic factors in question which
normally occur during exercise. It was hypothesized that synthetic activation/phosphorylation of
AMPK would lead to a downstream increase in activation/phosphorylation of p38 MAPK.
Synthetic activation of AMPK would reveal if it alone is sufficient to activate p38 MAPK, all
other events that happen during skeletal muscle contraction would not be factored into the
equation.
Specific Aim IV: Isolation of Energetic Drain
If AMPK is not the direct activator of p38 MAPK, then energetics alone could be responsible for
the activation of p38 MAPK. It was hypothesized that 2-deoxyglucose (DG), an inhibitor of
glycolysis, would lead to an increase in energetic drain and induce phosphorylation of both
AMPK and p38 MAPK. DG would isolate energetic stress from other physiological factors in
skeletal muscle, and identify whether it alone is sufficient for the activation of p38 MAPK.
Each of these studies will contribute to furthering the understanding of the roles AMPK and p38
MAPK play in the signaling pathway for mitochondrial biogenesis.

9

Figure 1. Myofibril Structure. Myofibrils are composed of repeating units of sarcomeres with
peripheral nuclei. Excitation-contraction coupling begins with stimulation of the motor neuron.
This action potential travels down the axon of the motor neurons to depolarize the transverse
tubules. The transverse tubules, which are coupled to the SR, cause the release of calcium into
the cytosol. Calcium binds to troponin and allows the conformational change of actin so the
myosin head can bind inducing shortening of the muscle and force production. Skeletal muscle
has peripherally located nuclei and mitochondria. The Z lines anchor the sarcomere to the
plasma membrane.
10

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Materials and Animals
Adult, male Swiss Webster mice (28-32 g body weight) (Harlan, Indianapolis, IN) were housed
in a 12h light/12h dark cycle and given food and water ad libitum. All protocols were approved
by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at Michigan State University (04/11-07700).
ATPase inhibitors, N-benzyl-p-toluene sulphonamide (BTS) and cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) were
purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Chemical Company (St. Louis, MO). Compound c, an AMPK
inhibitor, was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO; P5499). 5-Aminoimidazole-4carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranoside, (AICAR) a synthetic activator of AMPK, was purchased
from Toronto Research Chemicals (Toronto, Ontario; A611700). Rabbit polyclonal antibody to
phosphorylated p38 (Thr180/Tyr182) was purchased from Cell Signaling Technology (Beverly,
MA; catalog #9211). This antibody detects phospho-p38α, p38β, and p38γ isoforms. Total p38
was detected with rabbit antibodies specific for the α, β, and γ isoform (Cell Signaling
Technology; catalog #9212). Goat anti-rabbit IgG linked to horseradish peroxidase was
purchased from Cell Signaling Technology (catalog #7074). Rabbit polyclonal antibody to
phosphorylated AMPKα (Thr172) was purchased from Cell Signaling Technology (Cell
Signaling Technology; catalog #2535). This antibody detects both α-1 and α-2 isoforms. Total
AMPK was detected with rabbit antibodies specific for the α isoforms (Cell Signaling
Technology; #2532). Rabbit polyclonal antibody to phosphorylated ACC (Ser79) was purchased
from Cell Signaling Technology (Cell Signaling Technology; #3661). This antibody detects
both ACCα and ACCβ. Total ACC was detected with rabbit antibodies specific for all isoforms

11

of ACC (Cell Signaling Technology; #3662). Goat anti-rabbit IgG linked to horseradish
peroxidase was purchased from Cell Signaling Technology (catalog #7074). All other chemicals
were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich.
Isolated Muscle Preparations
Mice were anesthetized with an intra-peritoneal injection of pentobarbital (50 mg/kg). Extensor
digitorum longus (EDL) muscles were ligated at the proximal and distal tendons with 5.0 silk
sutures, removed from the hindlimbs, and secured in a 37°C water-jacketed organ bath (Radnoti
Glass Technology, Inc., Monrovia, CA) at their approximate in vivo resting length. These mouse
muscles have a small diameter allowing sufficient oxygen diffusion to the muscle core to
maintain the proper energetic state (Crow & Kushmerick 1982; Robert W. Wiseman and Martin
J. Kushmerick 1995). The bath contained 8 ml modified Ringer solution (117 mM NaCl, 4.6
mM KCl, 25 mM NaHCO3, 2.5 mM CaC12, 1.16 mM MgSO4, and 11 mM glucose, pH 7.4) with
10 mg/L gentamycin and was continuously gassed with 95% O2/5% CO2.
Mice were euthanized via cervical dislocation. Muscles were field-stimulated via platinum
electrodes using a Grass S88 Stimulator (Grass Instruments, Quincy, MA). After adjusting the
muscle to optimal length (Lo) using the length tension relationship, initial maximal twitch force
was determined using supramaximal voltage. Only muscles that were physiologically stable and
able to generate 5 or more grams of force under supramaximal stimulation prior to the start of
any experimental protocol were included in this study.
In the first study, muscles were treated with inhibitors and/or vehicle for a total of 60 minutes.
To inhibit both cytosolic ATPases, muscles were first treated with BTS (in 20 µl DMSO). Thirty
minutes later, CPA was added (in 20 µl DMSO). Muscles were treated in this order because
12

CPA causes a rise in intracellular calcium levels (Baudet et al. 1993; Robin et al. 2012) that may
be sufficient to increase basal tension by activation of actomyosin ATPase. For experiments
with a single ATPase inhibited, 20 µl DMSO was added to the bath during the first 30 minute
period, followed by addition of either 20 µl BTS or CPA stock solutions for the remaining 30
minutes. The final concentration of DMSO was 0.5% (v/v) in all experiments. When present,
the final concentration of BTS was 75 µM, and CPA was 50 µM.
Inhibitor concentrations were selected based on the minimum concentration sufficient to abolish
the physiologic function of each ATPase. Dentel et al. have previously shown that 75 µM BTS
is sufficient to inhibit force production by over 95% within 30 minutes with no effects on Ca2+
kinetics (Dentel et al. 2005). Using an increase in the relaxation time as an index of SERCA
function, a similar dose response curve was generated for CPA to determine the optimal
concentration to inhibit its function.

Muscles were incubated in varying concentrations of CPA,

and twitches were performed every 10 minutes for a 30 minute period.
Muscles were electrically stimulated with 0.5 msec duration pulses delivered at 10 Hz for 15
minutes. A small group of muscles were kept at Lo for the same duration (15 minutes) for nonstimulated resting controls. Immediately after the stimulation period, the sutures securing the
muscles were cut, muscles rapidly blotted of to remove excess media and freeze-clamped
between liquid nitrogen temperature stainless steel tongs to preserve the energetic state and
protein phosphorylation status. Muscles were stored at -8

C until further analysis.

In the next series of experiment, all muscles were hung in the same manner as stated above. To
determine the proper concentration of compound c necessary to inhibit AMPK, a dose response
curve was generated using increasing concentrations (80, 100, 120 or 140µM) for 60 minutes

13

(Figure 5). After incubation with increasing concentrations of either compound c or the vehicle
(DMSO), muscles were stimulated at 2 Hz for 20 minutes with a 2 ms pulse duration (Funai &
Cartee 2009). Tendon-free EDLs weights were found before flash frozen and stored at -8

C

until further analysis.
In order to test muscles with activated AMPK, muscles were hung at resting length and treated
with 2mM AICAR (a synthetic activator of AMPK) or vehicle (DMSO) for 120mins. A twitch
was performed every 30 minutes to each of the muscles in order to ensure that force was
maintained over the incubation period. Tendon-free EDLs weights were found before muscles
were flash fro en and stored at -8

C until further analysis was done.

In the final study, all muscles were hung at resting length and treated with either 20mM 2deoxyglucose (DG) or vehicle (DMSO) for 40 minutes. Incubation with DG allows the isolation
of energetic demand and the determination of its role in activation of p38γ MAPK. Twitches
were administered every 10 minutes to ensure the viability of the muscle. Muscles were flash
frozen and stored at -80°C until further analysis was done.
Metabolite Analyses
EDL muscles were cut free of their sutures on a liquid nitrogen cooled aluminum block and
weighed while still frozen in order to maintain the metabolic state. Metabolites were extracted in
20 to 30-fold excess ice-cold 0.5 N perchloric acid with rapid homogenization by pre-cooled 1.4
mm stainless steel beads in a Bullet Blender (Next Advance). Extracts were neutralized and
perchlorate was removed by the addition of ice-cold KOH and subsequent centrifugation at 4°C.
Samples were stored at -80°C until analysis.

14

Concentrations of phosphocreatine (PCr), creatine (Cr), adenine nucleotides (ATP, ADP, and
AMP), and adenine nucleotide degradation products (IMP, adenosine, adenine, and inosine) were
determined by ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) using a Waters Acquity UPLC
H-class system. The method is based on a high performance liquid chromatography method
from Teerlink et al. (Teerlink et al. 1993). UPLC separation was achieved by gradient reversephase chromatography using an Acquity UPLC HSS T3 1.8 µm, 2.1 x 150 mm column (Waters)
maintained at 35°C. Mobile phases consisted of 0.2 M KH2PO4 (buffer A) and 50% water / 25%
acetonitrile / 25% methanol (buffer B). Flow rate was a constant 0.4 ml /min with the initial
conditions 98.5% buffer A and the balance buffer B. Starting at 0.1 minutes, the percent buffer
A decreased linearly to 85% at 6 minutes and further decreased to 50% at 7 minutes. The mobile
phase was returned to the initial buffer A: buffer B ratio (98.5: 1.5) at 7.2 minutes, where it
remained until 10.5 minutes to re-equilibrate the column, after which a new sample could be
injected. Metabolites were identified by comparison of peak retention times of pure,
commercially available standards (Sigma-Aldrich), which were separated with baseline
resolution in less than 7 minutes (Figure 6A). Baseline resolution was also achieved with
extracts from non-contracted (Figure 6B) and 15 minute contracted (Figure 6C) EDL muscles
demonstrating that other metabolites did not interfere with this chromatography method.
Quantification was by comparing peak area at 210 nm, which was linear with amount injected
from 0.2 pmol to 100 pmol with an r2 >0.998 for all metabolites.
Western Blot Analysis
Frozen muscles were homogenized in isotonic saline containing glycerol, DTT, SDS, protease
inhibitors, and phosphatase inhibitors as previously described (Dentel et al. 2005). Briefly, 25 µg
of total protein for each sample was resolved by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide
15

electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) through 10%, 12% acrylamide gels, or gradient gel (Bio-Rad)
(w/v) acrylamide gels and then transferred onto nitrocellulose membranes. Gel was Coomassie
stained and membranes were reversibly stained with Ponceau S to ensure equal loading and
transfer of proteins. Membranes were blocked in 5% BSA in TBST or 5% Non-fat milk in
TBST, then incubated overnight at

C with primary antibodies diluted 1:1000. After incubation

with secondary antibody-HRP conjugate (1:2000), bound second antibody was detected using the
Phototope-HRP Western Blot Chemiluminescent kit (Cell Signaling Technology, Beverly, MA).
Chemiluminescent signals were visualized on Amersham ECL Hyperfilm (Amersham
Biosciences, Piscataway, NJ), digitally captured, (EDAS 290 gel documentation system,
Eastman Kodak, Rochester, NY), and quantified by densitometry (Quantity One Image Analysis
software, BioRad, Hercules, CA). The amount of enzyme that is in the phosphorylated state for
each p38 MAP kinase isoform was expressed as a ratio to the percent change from the control
group for each protein used.
Statistics
Data are presented as the mean ± standard error (SE). Statistical significance (P < 0.05) was
determined by ANOVA, followed by Tukey-Kramer HSD were appropriate.

16

A.

B.

C.

D.
Figure 2. Treatment Timelines.

17

Figure 2 (cont’d). A. Specific Aim I. Timeline representation of the EDL treatment with either BTS, CPA, or BTS + CPA
(Treatment) prior to stimulation at 10 Hz for 15 minutes. At the end of the stimulation, muscles were weighed and flash frozen before
stored at -80 C until further analysis. B. Specific Aim II. Timeline representation of compound c (Treatment) incubation for 60
minutes prior to stimulation at 2 Hz for 20 minutes. Muscles were weighed, flash frozen and stored at -80 C until further analysis. C.
Specific Aim III. Timeline representation of AICAR (Treatment) incubation for 120 minutes. A twitch was administered every 30
minutes in order to ensure the viability of the muscle. At the end of the incubation, muscles were weighed, flash frozen and stored at 80 C until further analysis. D. Specific Aim IV. Timeline representation of DG incubation for 40 minutes. At the end of the
stimulation, muscles were weighed and flash frozen before stored at -80 C until further analysis.

18

RESULTS
Specific Aim I: Signaling Mechanisms of the p38 MAPKs
Inhibition of SERCA by CPA
Optimal concentration of CPA to inhibit SERCA function was derived from inhibitor titration
experiments. All concentrations had a time-dependent increase in total relaxation time, reaching
the maximum at 30 minutes (Figure 2). The highest concentration of CPA (250μM) had a
decrease in peak force production (data not shown). Therefore, further CPA incubation
experiments were done using 5 μM concentrations in order to minimize the physiological effects
seen on force production.
Specific Inhibitor Effects on Contractile Performance
Single twitch characteristics were analyzed both pre- and post-treatment (Table I) in order to
discern the effects of each inhibitor alone or in combination on physiologic function. Control
treatment (DMSO) in EDL muscles had no effect on twitch kinetics (Figure 4). BTS, an
inhibitor of the actinomyosin ATPase, lead to >95% reduction in twitch peak force and the
tension time integral. There was only a modest increase in rise time and decrease in relaxation
time; this is consistent with observations reported previously from this laboratory (Dentel et al.
2005) and others (Cheung et al. 2002; Young et al. 2003). Incubation with CPA, a SERCA
inhibitor, caused a 1.8-fold increase in peak force and seven-fold increase in the total relaxation
time from 28 to almost 200ms (Table I). This is consistent with previous reports (Kurebayashi
1991; Même et al. 1998). There was a 12-fold increase in the tension-time integral for a single
twitch, which would be due to both the increase in peak force and the longer relaxation time.

19

BTS+CPA in combination had little effect on twitch kinetics but force was decreased by >90%,
most likely due to BTS which also contributed to the 90% reduction in the tension-time integral.
To look at the effect of the inhibitors on the function of the ATPases, the EDLs were stimulated
at 10 Hz for 15 minutes. Control (DMSO) stimulated EDLs had force potentiation during the
first few seconds to generate peak force values of almost 14grams. Force fell rapidly by 80%
within the first four minutes of stimulation and remained at that level until the end of the
stimulation protocol (Figure 5). The cumulative tension time integral, having an average of 127
N.s/gww, was used as an indication of the imposed workload. Treatment with BTS alone had a
decrease in overall force production by 85%. The cumulative tension time integral for BTStreated muscles was 20 N.s/gww. Peak force production was increased to over 28 grams in the
stimulated CPA treated muscles. This was due to the inhibition of the calcium reuptake, but
there was a rapid decrease of force within two minutes. There was failure of the EDLs to fully
relax between pulses most likely due to the inhibition of the calcium re-uptake from the cytosol
by SERCA; the stimulation protocol appeared as if it was one fused contraction (Figure 5). The
cumulative tension time integral of the CPA treated muscles was 395 N.s/gww, which was the
largest of all the groups. Similar to the BTS treatment alone, there was almost total loss of force
production with the combination treatment of BTS and CPA. There was also an increase in
relaxation time for each individual twitch and the cumulative tension-time integral was 35
N.s/gww.
HPLC
Consistent with previous HPLC measurements from perchloric acid extracts of the nonstimulated muscles (DMSO), the PCr/Cr ratio was approximately 3:1 (Table II) (Hancock et al.

20

2005; Kushmerick et al. 1992; Wiseman and Kushmerick 1995). This indicates that neither
muscle incubation nor the treatment with DMSO have any detrimental effects on energetic state
of the muscle. Inosine monophosphate levels, an indicator of long-term energetic drain, were
.35 ± . 9 μmol/gww, which is comparable to values reported by others in resting fast-twitch
muscles from mice (Hancock et al. 2005).
A 73% decrease in both PCr and ATP concentrations (p<0.05) was seen in vehicle treated
(DMSO) stimulated EDLs. Also, a concurrent 2.7-fold increase in Cr and a 7.1-fold increase in
IMP (p<0.05) was seen (Table II). Stimulation also caused a slight, but significant (P< 0.05)
increase in inosine concentration. However, both the adenine ( .12 μmol/gww) and the
adenosine nucleotide pool ( .1 μmol/gww) were conserved over the course of the stimulation
protocol. BTS treatment alone, causing inhibition of the actinomyosin ATPase, had no
significant effect on the levels of PCr or ATP, and IMP accumulation was nearly identical to that
of the control stimulated muscles (1.9 ± . 9 μmol/gww). This indicates that the energetic costs
of calcium handling are still consuming ATP within the 15 minute stimulation protocol. CPA
treatment alone, causing inhibition of SERCA, with stimulation resulted in a decrease in PCr and
ATP, but the accumulation of IMP was similar to that of the stimulated control EDLs (2.15±
.21 μmol/gww). This indicates that there is still energetic demand occurring with SERCA
inhibition, which could be due to the increased myosin ATPase use which is seen with the
potentiation in force production (Table II and Figure 5). The combined treatment of BTS+CPA
caused PCr, Cr, and ATP to be close to resting levels and only a modest decrease in the PCr/Cr
ratio (Table 2). Most importantly, the IMP concentration ( .58 ± . 8 μmol/gww) was not
different than levels found in control non-stimulated muscles.
Phosphorylation of MAPK Isoforms by Western Blot Analysis
21

Stimulation at 10 Hz for 15 min profoundly increased the phosphorylation of the p38 isoforms in
comparison to resting levels. Phosphorylated p38γ levels were increased by 3.44±0.26, and pp38α/β was increased by 2.62±0.04 (n=3; p=0.001; p=6.4e-5) (Figure 7).
To test whether the phosphorylation state of the p38 isoforms were dependent on force
production, muscles were incubated in the absence or presence of BTS, an actinomyosin ATPase
inhibitor, and then electrically stimulated. Even with a dramatic decrease in force (Table I), BTS
did not decrease the phosphorylation of the p38 isoforms as compared to control-stimulated
muscles (Figure 8).
Sarcoplasmic reticulum-ATPase (SERCA) catalyzes the reuptake of Ca2+ into the SR, which can
account for about 30% of the energetics used in contracting muscle (Rall 2005). To test if an
increase in calcium in the cytosol or the energetic cost of the reuptake of Ca2+ induces
phosphorylation of the p38 isoforms, muscles were treated with CPA. In stimulated CPA treated
muscles, the phosphorylation pattern for the p38 isoforms was not significantly different from
the control-stimulated muscles (Figure 9).
Treatment with both BTS and CPA, inhibits the two major ATPases and causes energetic drain
during contraction to be reduced by about 95%. In stimulated muscles treated with both BTS
and CPA (Figure 10), the phosphorylation of p38 α/β (0.85± 0.77) was no different from muscles
treated with BTS alone (1.0± 0.10). However, the phosphorylation of p38γ was significantly
blunted (0.45± 0.67)(n=4; p=0.04) in comparison to BTS-treated muscles (1± 0.16).

22

Figure 3. CPA Dose Response Curve. Dose response curve for cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) over
time in isolated EDL mouse muscles incubated at 4 different concentrations. Inhibition of
SERCA by CPA was evaluated by measuring the total relaxation time for each contraction (in
msec) and normalized to the percent of initial then expressed as the reciprocal. The data are
presented as mean ± SEM.

23

Table I. Muscle Twitch Characteristics. Muscle mass and twitch characteristics before (Pre-Treatment) and after (Post-Treatment)
treatment with DMSO (control), 75µM BTS, 50µM CPA, and BTS+CPA.

24

Figure 4. Treatment Effects on Twitch Characteristics. Representative twitch force
recordings of electrically stimulated muscles before (Pre-) and after (Post-) treatment with
DMSO (Control) or with the ATPase inhibitors BTS (75 µM), CPA (50 µM), and CPA (50 µM)
+ BTS (75 µM).
25

Figure 5. Treatment Effects on Fatigue Protocol. Representative force recordings of
incubated muscles electrically stimulated at 10 Hz for 15 min. Muscles were treated with DMSO
(control) (n=6), BTS (n=7), CPA (n=7), or CPA + BTS (n=7) for 60 minutes before stimulation.
The cumulative tension time integral (TTI) of each group is presented as mean ± SE and
represents the total amount of contractile work performed over the duration of the entire time
course.

26

Figure 6. Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography Chromatograms. A: Chromatogram
of a standard mixture containing 100pmol each phosphocreatine (PCr), creatine, ATP, ADP,
AMP, IMP, adenosine, inosine, and xanthine and 25pmol each hypoxanthine and adenine. B:
Chromatogram of a perchloric acid extract of a non-contracted EDL muscle incubated at resting
length. Injection volume was 2 µl were used with detection limits of 0.2 pmol. C: Chromatogram
of an extract from an EDL muscle after contracting at 10 Hz for 15 min.
27

Table II. Treatment Effects on Metabolites During Fatigue Protocol. Phosphocreatine (PCr), creatine (Cr), adenine nucleotide,
inosine monophosphate (IMP) and inosine content of resting (Non-Stimulated) and 15 minute stimulated (Control, BTS, CPA, and
BTS+CPA) EDL Muscles.

28

Figure 7. Phosphorylation Change of the MAPK Isoforms During Rest and Stimulation.
EDLs were either stimulated at 10 Hz at 15 minutes (Stimulated) or non-stimulated (Non-Stim)
for 15 minutes. Protein levels of phospho-p38 MAPK isoforms were determined by western
blot. Quantification was based on the percent increase in the phosphorylated protein relative to
the control phosphorylation intensities detected by Western blot analysis (n=3). There is a
significant increase seen in phosphorylation of each of the p38-MAPK isoforms in skeletal
muscle that received electrical stimulation. Bar graphs represent the mean ± SE; n=3 (p38γ
MAPK p= .

1; p38α/β MAPK p=6.4x10-5).

29

Figure 8. Phosphorylation Change of the MAPK Isoforms During Stimulation with DMSO
or BTS Treatment. Muscles were treated without (DMSO) or with (BTS) cytosolic
actinomyosin ATPase inhibitor and then stimulated for 15 minutes at 10 Hz. Protein levels of
phospho-p38 MAPK isoforms were determined by western blot. Quantification was based
change in band intensity of phosphorylated protein relative to the control phosphorylated protein
levels detected by Western blot analysis. Bar graphs represent the mean ± SE; n=4.

30

Figure 9. Phosphorylation Change of the MAPK Isoforms During Stimulation with DMSO
or CPA Treatment. Muscles were treated without (control) or with (CPA) cytosolic SERCA
ATPase inhibitor and then stimulated for 15 min at 10 Hz. Protein levels of phospho-p38 MAPK
isoforms were determined by western blot. Quantification was based on the change in the band
intensity of treated phosphorylated protein relative to the control phosphorylated levels detected
by Western blot analysis. Bar graphs represent the mean ± SE; n=4.

31

Figure 10. Phosphorylation Change of the MAPK Isoforms During Stimulation with BTS
or BTS+CPA Treatment. Muscles were treated with BTS or BTS+CPA in combination
(actinomyosin ATPase or SERCA ATPase inhibitor) and then stimulated for 15 min at 10 Hz.
Protein levels of phospho-p38 MAPK isoforms were determined by western blot. Quantification
was based on the change in the band intensity of the treated phosphorylated protein relative to
BTS treated intensity levels detected by western blot analysis. Bar graphs represent the mean ±
SE; n=4 (p38γ MAPK p= .

8; p38α/β MAPK p= .2 ).

32

Specific Aim II: Inhibition of AMPK
A compound c dose response curve was created for incubation of ex vivo mouse skeletal muscle.
EDL muscles were incubated with increasing concentrations of compound c at 80, 100, 120 and
140µM for 60 minutes prior to stimulation at 2 Hz for 20 minutes with a 2 ms pulse duration
(Figure 2B) (stimulation protocol (Funai & Cartee 2009). Comparable amounts of DMSO were
added for controls. This decrease in frequency of stimulation was done to ensure the fast twitch
fibers of the EDL were not mechanically damaged with the higher stimulation protocols used in
the previous study. Quantification of western blots seems to trend toward a decrease in AMPK
phosphorylation with concentration of 120 and 140 µM (Figure 11). However, p-ACC western
intensities show no change in the activity of AMPK, even with the decrease seen in the
phosphorylation status of AMPK at the higher concentrations of compound c (n=2) (Figure 12).
Increasing concentrations of compound c incubation prior to stimulation appeared to have no
effect on the activation state of p38γ MAPK in comparison to DMSO treated muscles prior to
stimulation (n=1; data not shown).

33

Figure 11. Compound C Dose Response Curve Effects on the Phosphorylation of AMPK.
Dose response curve for compound c with increasing concentrations at 80, 100, 120 and 140µM
incubated for 60 minutes before stimulation at 10 Hz for 15 minutes. Western blot band
intensities of p-AMPK were normalized to the percent change in phosphorylation from DMSO
incubated muscles; n=2.

34

Figure 12. Compound C Dose Response Curve Effects on the Phosphorylation of ACC.
Dose response curve for compound c with increasing concentrations at 80, 100, 120 and 140µM
incubated for 60 minutes before stimulation at 10 Hz for 15 minutes. Western blot quantification
was done by percent change of band intensities in comparison to DMSO treated muscles; n=2.

35

Specific Aim III: Synthetic Activation of AMPK
Since compound c is unable to inhibit AMPK activity in mouse skeletal muscle (Fujii et al.
2006), synthetic activation of AMPK during rest allows the isolation of AMPK phosphorylation
from energetic demand to look at its downstream effects. The synthetic activator, AICAR was
used to measure the phosphorylation state of p38γ MAPK in comparison to control. The
baseline was monitored to ensure AICAR did not cause a change in the tension of the EDLs and
a twitch was administered every 30 minutes to ensure the viability of the muscle (Figure 2C).
After 2 hours of AICAR incubation, there was a significant increase in AMPK phosphorylation
(Figure 13) and in phosphorylation of ACC (Figure 14), a downstream target of AMPK, in
comparison to phosphorylation levels of muscles treated with DMSO (control). At the end of the
2 hour AICAR incubation, there was a slight increase in the phosphorylation/activation state of
p38γ MAPK in comparison to resting controls, but did not reach significance (Figure 15).

36

Figure 13. Effects of AICAR on the Phosphorylation of AMPK. EDL muscles hung at
resting length were treated with 2mM AICAR for 2 hours; the baseline was monitored and a
twitch administered every 30 minutes in order to ensure the viability of the muscles. Protein
levels of p-AMPK are shown which were determined by western blot and quantified by the
percent change in the intensity of AICAR in comparison to DMSO. Bar graphs represent the
mean ± SE; n=16 (p=0.035).

37

Figure 14. Effects of AICAR on the Phosphorylation of ACC. EDL muscles hung at resting
length were treated with 2mM AICAR for 2 hours. The baseline was monitored and a twitch
administered every 30 minutes in order to ensure the viability of the muscles. The percent
change in p-ACC is shown, which was determined by quantification of western blot comparing
control (DMSO) to AICAR treatment. Bar graphs represent the mean ± SE; n=11 (p=0.026).

38

Figure 15. Effects of AICAR on the Phosphorylation of p38γ MAPK. EDL muscles hung at
resting length were treated with 2mM AICAR for 2 hours. The baseline was monitored and a
twitch administered every 30 minutes in order to ensure the viability of the muscles. Protein
levels of p-p38γ MAPK are shown which were determined by western blot quantification
comparing the percent change in intensity between the control (DMSO) and AICAR treated
muscles. Bar graphs represent the mean ± SE; n=15 (p=0.320).

39

Specific Aim IV: Isolation of Energetic Drain
Since there was no significant increase in phosphorylation of p38γ MAPK, it is possible that
energetic demand or a component of it is sufficient to increase activation of p38γ MAPK. In
order to isolate energetic drain, without any other physiological factors, 2-deoxyglucose (DG)
was used. When DG is introduced it is phosphorylated into 2-deoxyglucose 6-phosphate which
is not further metabolized causing inhibition of glycolysis (Bachelard et al. 1971). This should
cause energetic drain in the cell with no other physiological effects that normally occur during
exercise. Levels of p-AMPK were measured after incubation with 20mM DG for 40 minutes
using quantification of Western Blots (Figure 16). There was no percent change in the intensity
of the bands in comparison to control levels (Figure 17). Phosphorylated p38γ MAPK band
intensities were also measured, but also showed no change when compared to control.

40

Figure 16. Effects of 2-Deoxyglucose on the Phosphorylation of AMPK. EDL muscles were
hung at resting length and incubated with either DMSO (control) or 20mM 2-deoxyglucose
(DG). Phospho-AMPK Western blot quantification was done through comparing the percent
change of the band intensities between the control muscles and those treated with DG. There
was no change in the band intensities when comparing the two groups. Bar graphs represent the
mean ± SE; n=4 (p=0.44).

41

Figure 17. Effects of 2-Deoxyglucose on the Phosphorylation of p38γ MAPK. EDL muscles
were hung at resting length and incubated with either DMSO (control) or 20mM 2-deoxyglucose
(DG). Western blot quantification was done through comparing the percent change of the band
intensities between the control muscles and those treated with DG. There was no change in the
band intensities when comparing the intensities of p-p38γ MAPK between the two treatment
groups. Bar graphs represent the mean ± SE; n=7 (p=0.40).

42

DISCUSSION
Exercise leads to beneficial adaptation throughout the entire body. One of these adaptations is an
increase in aerobic capacity through mitochondrial biogenesis. PGC-1α has been identified as a
biogenesis marker (Wu et al. 1999) and two of the transduction pathways correlated with its
activation are AMPK and p38 MAPK (Pogozelski et al. 2009; Winder et al. 2013; Jäger et al.
2007). These kinases were isolated in order to increase the understanding of the signaling
pathway leading to mitochondrial biogenesis.
Activation of p38γ MAPK has a specific role in mitochondrial biogenesis shown by Pogozelski
et al with the p38 MAPK isoform specific knockout mice. In this study they show with 4 weeks
of voluntary running there is an increase in mitochondrial content in the α/β specific isoform
knockout models, but not the p38γ knockout. This identifies p38γ MAPK as the specific isoform
necessary for mitochondrial biogenesis to occur after exercise (Pogozelski et al. 2009). Through
the inhibition of the two major ATPases in skeletal muscle, the physiological activation
mechanism during stimulation of the p38 MAPKs was examined. These data confirm that in
stimulated muscles when compared to resting, hanging controls there is a 2.6-fold increase in the
phosphorylation of the α/β isoforms and a 3. -fold increase in phosphorylation of γ MAPK
(Figure 7). BTS treatment alone shows with the inhibition of the actinomyosin ATPase, there is
no change in the activation state of any of the MAPK’s suggesting that force production is not
the mechanism of activation (Figure 8). CPA alone causes inhibition of SERCA resulting in
calcium flooding the cytoplasm inducing potentiation of force (Figure 9). However there is no
change in the phosphorylation state of the p38 isoforms in comparison to control stimulation.
This demonstrates that neither the sustained cytosolic Ca2+ levels nor the reduction of energetic

43

demands associated with calcium pumping were sufficient to alter the phosphorylation pattern
for any of the p38 isoforms.
When BTS and CPA are combined there is inhibition of the two major ATPase, which are
responsible for about 90% of the energetic demand during electrical stimulation. Only with
combined treatment is activation of p38γ MAPK specifically blunted by 2.5 fold, suggesting that
the energetic demand is responsible for its phosphorylation (Figure 10). Combined treatment
does not alter the activation state of p38α and β MAPK. These data suggest that the change in
energetics is what induces phosphorylation of p38γ alone, while another physiological
component of exercise is responsible for the activation of the p38α and β isoforms.
AMPK is an energy sensing kinase and is activated during exercise (Hardie et al. 1998). Since
energetic drain is what leads to the activation of p38γ MAPK, it was speculated that AMPK
could be responsible for its activation. If there is decreased activation/phosphorylation of AMPK
with compound c incubation prior to stimulation and blunted phosphorylation of p38γ MAPK, it
would suggest that AMPK is sufficient for activation of p38γ MAPK. A dose response curve
was created to find the optimal concentration of compound c to inhibit AMPK activity during
stimulation. Increasing concentrations of compound c during stimulation seem to slightly
decrease the phosphorylation of AMPK. However, unaltered phosphorylation of downstream
ACC, suggests that compound c is insufficient to blunt the activity of AMPK. Fujii et al states
that compound c does not work in the mouse skeletal muscle (Fujii et al. 2006). Therefore, this
is not a suitable mechanism in mice to test the hypothesis that AMPK is an upstream activator of
p38γ MAPK.

44

AICAR can synthetically lead to activation of AMPK via ZMP, and cause downstream
phosphorylation of ACC (Corton et al. 1995). Using AICAR would show in resting muscle that
AMPK is sufficient to activate/phosphorylate p38γ MAPK. AICAR would isolate AMPK
phosphorylation and allow a further understanding of its downstream effects. Phosphorylation of
p38γ MAPK does not show a significant increase after incubation of AICAR for 2 hours,
suggesting that AMPK phosphorylation/activation is not sufficient to induce activation of the
p38γ MAPK isoform (Figure 15). Therefore, these findings suggest that a component of
energetic demand alone could lead to the activation of p38γ MAPK.
Since AMPK was insufficient to significantly increase the phosphorylation of p38γ MAPK,
isolation of energetic drain could allow further understanding of the activation mechanisms. 2Deoxyglucose (DG) is a glucose molecule that has the normal 2-hydroxyl group replaced by
hydrogen. DG acts as a competitive inhibitor of glycolysis through the enzyme hexokinase and
forms the product glucose-6-phosphate (Bachelard et al. 1971). This buildup of glucose-6phosphate, through the inhibition of glycolysis, causes an increase in the AMP: ATP. Incubation
with DG would show that a change in energetics, without any other contributing factors, can lead
to activation of p38γ MAPK independently of AMPK activation. If both are activated by a
change in energetics, then both should be phosphorylated/ activated with DG incubation.
Western blot quantification shows that there is no change in the phosphorylation state of neither
AMPK nor p38γ MAPK (Figure 16 and Figure 17). These data may suggest that another
physiological factor is responsible for their activation. More likely it could be due to an
insufficient drain of energetics to cause activation of either of the kinases.
Cuthbertson et al wanted to determine whether AICAR stimulates muscle glucose uptake in
healthy males. They used DG as their measure of glucose uptake, and interestingly, with 180
45

minutes of DG infusion via the forearm vein, there was no change in the phosphorylation of
AMPK or ACC (Cuthbertson et al. 2007). This result correlates with the data presented here,
revealing no change in the phosphorylation level of AMPK or p38γ MAPK with DG incubation.
DG could be an insufficient mechanism of inducing energetic drain in resting skeletal muscle.
Therefore, another mechanism to isolate energetic stress may show more precisely its role in the
activation of the kinases.
A recent study shows that AMPK may not be activated directly by an increase in the AMP: ATP
ratio, but via an indirect mechanism through liver kinase B1 (LKB1) (Tanner et al. 2013).
Tanner et al show through a LKB1 skeletal muscle specific knock out that AMPK activation is
dependent on LKB1. There is no increase in the phosphorylation of AMPK in the skeletal
muscle specific knockout model in comparison to the control when incubated with AICAR or in
hind limb electrical stimulation.
The p38 MAPKs could be activated by an indirect component of energetic drain.

XO activity

increases with energetic drain. Inosine, a component of fatigue is further broken down into
hypoxanthine and ribose. When there are increasing levels of hypoxanthine, xanthine oxidase
levels increase and produce reactive oxygen species (Nivorozhkin & Szabo 2006). In a recent
study by Wadley et al, they show a correlation to p38 MAPK activation xanthine oxidase (XO)
inhibition. This study uses an inhibitor of XO, allopurinol, which causes a decrease in the
activation of p38 MAPK; this study does not look at the specific isoforms in skeletal muscle
(Wadley et al. 2013). XO is located in the endothelium of the skeletal muscle (Jackson 2011). It
could be possible that XO, or a product of XO activity, is responsible for the activation of p38γ
MAPK and in turn for mitochondrial biogenesis. It could also be possible that it is responsible

46

for the activation of α and β isoforms. Further experiments need to be done in order to
understand the exact mechanisms of activation.
Results from Brault et al. and the AICAR studies suggest that p38γ MAPK is activated by a
change in energetics but not via AMPK (Brault et al. 2013). Still, it is unknown whether p38γ
MAPK can be activated directly by the change in energetics or indirectly via another upstream
kinase. It is also unknown which element of the change in energetics is responsible. If DG did
not create an energetic drain sufficient to activate p38γ MAPK, another component of energetic
drain maybe required.
PGC-1α has been suggested to be activated by both AMPK and p38 MAPK (Chin 2004;
Pogozelski et al. 2009; Winder et al. 2013). Their mechanism of activation and role in this
transcription factor activation for mitochondrial biogenesis has yet to be identified. These
studies done do not determine whether either or both kinases are able to activate PGC-1α.
Further experiments need to be done in order to see which is responsible for the translocation of
PGC-1α. This study shows that both AMPK and p38γ MAPK are downstream of a change in the
energetic signal, yet which plays a pivotal role in the signaling pathway of mitochondrial
biogenesis is still unknown. This study does confirm that both AMPK and p38γ MAPK are
activated with electrical stimulation in skeletal muscle and suggests that AMPK is insufficient to
significantly activate p38γ MAPK. Further experiments would need to be done to better
understand the signaling pathway leading to mitochondrial biogenesis.

47

CONTINUED RESEARCH


2-deoxyglucose incubation revealed no change in the activation states of either AMPK or
p38γ MAPK. Nuclear magnetic spectroscopy would measure the change in energetics
during incubation. This would determine whether there was energetic drain and provide
a better understanding why it was insufficient to induce activation.



LKB1 has been shown to be an upstream activator of AMPK (Tanner et al. 2013).
Measurements of LKB1 could be taken in order to ensure its activation with AICAR and
energetic stimulation. An LKB1 inhibitor could be used to see if it is possibly an
activator of p38γ MAPK. LKB1 could be upstream of both AMPK and p38γ MAPK;
LKB1 is activated by a change in energetics and could be responsible for the activation of
both kinases.



XO could have a specific correlation with one or all of the isoforms of MAPK present in
skeletal muscle. Conducting a similar study to that of Wadley et al, would provide a
further understanding of the mechanisms of activation of the p38 MAPKs. Using the
same antibodies as in the study above that binds to specific isoforms of p38 MAPK
would specify which of the isoforms are activated through XO. Incubating muscles with
allopurinol, an inhibitor of XO, prior to stimulation will identify if XO is responsible for
the activation of p38γ MAPK and mitochondrial biogenesis.



Nuclear measurements of PGC-1α would need to be taken in order to confirm that both
AMPK and p38γ MAPK play a role in the nuclear translocation of PGC-1α. The AICAR
studies would show that AMPK can independently cause translocation of PGC-1α, if
there was an increase in the nuclear levels. This would show that p38γ MAPK is not
necessary for the activation and translocation of PGC-1α and that AMPK is sufficient for
48

initiation of mitochondrial biogenesis. If there is not a significant increase in the
translocation of PGC-1α with AICAR incubation, then DOG experiments should be
performed to see if energetics can lead to activation of p38γ MAPK and then measure the
nuclear levels of PGC-1α. This would show that p38γ MAPK is necessary for the
translocation of PGC-1α and initiation of mitochondrial biogenesis.


Lastly, with the theory that there is a mitochondrial defect in diabetes (REF), it would be
beneficial to look at the protein levels of both AMPK and p38 MAPK in a diabetic
model. This would look at their levels both in a resting muscle and in a stimulated
muscle to see if there are changes in both the protein content and the activity levels. This
would help us to better understand the signaling mechanisms in the disease state and
increase of understanding in the changes that occur with the mitochondria in the skeletal
muscle.

49

BIBLIOGRAPHY

50

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Yan, Z., 2005. Exercise stimulates Pgc-1alpha transcription in skeletal muscle through
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Bachelard, B.H.S., Clark, A.G. & Thompson, M.F., 1971. Cerebral-Cortex Hexokinases.
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