Arginine protects muscle cells from wasting in vitro in an mTORC1-dependent and NO-independent manner

Abstract

Amino acids are potent regulators of muscle protein synthesis and breakdown and have received considerable attention for the treatment of muscle wasting conditions. Arginine is critically involved in numerous physiological functions including providing substrate for the production of creatine, urea and nitric oxide (NO) and in the synthesis of new proteins. However, little is known about the direct effects of arginine on skeletal muscle protein synthesis during catabolic conditions. The aims of this study were to determine whether exogenous arginine could protect skeletal muscle cells from wasting directly and whether this effect was dependent on production of NO and/or activation of the rap..