The team at Nuritas studied biomarkers related to muscle maintenance to determine if a compound impacts the skeletal-muscular system. Key biomarkers include the mammalian target of Rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1), which is crucial for protein translation and maintaining muscle mass. mTORC1 influences the S6 ribosomal protein and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1, essential for muscle preservation. In contrast, the ubiquitin proteasome pathway causes muscle atrophy. These processes must balance for healthy muscle turnover. Researchers focused on S6 phosphorylation, an indicator of mTORC1 activity and muscle protein synthesis. Its detection via mass spectrometry or ELISA indicates mTOR activity, correlating with muscle mass increases.
Currently, methods to prevent muscle wasting focus on activating the mTOR complex by supplementing with leucine, yet this has not been experimentally confirmed. The team investigated AI-discovered peptides as a new approach to treat muscle atrophy. Peptides, found in food, act as signaling molecules and influence metabolic pathways. However, they must first be released from the food matrix to be bioavailable, and the human digestive system often struggles to absorb the necessary proteins for a balanced diet.
