Protein Synthesis – A Detailed Look – Updated For 2021 by Jim Brewster

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 A Detailed Look At Protein Synthesis 2021

In the last several years, the term “protein synthesis” has become commonly used in sports nutrition. It should be, it’s an exciting concept. Yet, some athletes may not completely understand what protein synthesis is. Additionally, they may not understand how it applies to muscle growth. Building muscle mass is crucial to your bodybuilding goals. Indeed, it’s critically important in many sports. Therefore, understanding this concept is one of the keys to your athletic success.

Protein synthesis is a fundamental biological process by which individual cells build their specific proteins (1,2). You can think of this as the synthesis of new skeletal muscle proteins. When this occurs because of intense resistance exercise and correct nutrition, it’s the trigger for muscle growth. However, the process itself is a little complicated. Still, there’s no need to make it more complicated than it needs to be. We should understand that protein synthesis is a biological process that replaces proteins in the body. Therefore, we can explore how this relates to muscle growth.

Net Protein Balance

The term “anabolic environment” is one you frequently hear in sports nutrition. Put simply, it means keeping the body in a state of positive protein balance. Protein synthesis occurs if you have ingested more protein than what’s required to cover the basic functions of the body. This helps the body maintain a state of positive protein balance.

The human body is made of protein (after water, the dry weight of your body is about 75% protein). Protein in the form of amino acids is required to perform the hundreds of processes needed to keep you alive and functioning. This means that your body demands sufficient protein intake every single day. Despite a daily protein intake, there may not be enough left over for muscle growth to occur. Therefore, bodybuilders and athletes need to ingest more than is typically suggested by mainstream sources. A good rule of thumb is at least 1g per pound of bodyweight.

Protein & Muscle Tissue

Another reason adequate protein intake is important is that If the body needs more protein than what is available, it will break down muscle tissue to compensate. This is referred to as muscle protein breakdown. Protein breakdown and protein synthesis occur simultaneously throughout the day. When you wake up in the morning, you’re in a fasted state because you have not eaten for 6-9 hours, so the rate of protein breakdown will increase.

That’s why it’s important to ingest a fast-digesting protein source such as a whey protein shake first thing in the morning. If the rate of breakdown exceeds the rate of protein synthesis, you lose muscle, this is also known as a state of negative protein balance. Your body fluctuates between these anabolic and catabolic states based on when you eat and how much quality protein you take in.

So, muscle growth, then, is the rate of protein synthesis exceeding the rate of protein breakdown. (3) Therefore, understanding protein synthesis contributes to your ability to stay in an anabolic environment.

The mTOR Pathway

The first step in understanding protein synthesis is to understand “signaling pathways”. The primary signaling pathway is the mTOR pathway. This originally stood for “mammalian target of rapamycin”. However, it has been more recently defined as “mechanistic target of rapamycin”.

mTOR is a type of protein that is considered a master growth regulator that “senses” nutritional and environmental signals including intense exercise. These signals are used to increase the potential of the anabolic processes of the body, which includes muscle growth. mTOR is considered to be the primary regulator of protein synthesis. (4,5,6).

What Activates mTOR?

The good news is, you can directly affect muscle growth by activating mTOR, and it’s activated by three things:

  • Mechanical stress (from heavy training loads)
  • Growth factors (Testosterone, IGF, growth hormone, insulin, etc.)
  • Amino acids (particularly leucine)

 

Training Suggestions

Not surprisingly, resistance exercise increases protein synthesis (7). This means you have to train hard enough for growth to occur. The type of training that seems to be most effective is the use of progressively heavier training loads on basic exercises with reps in the 6-8 range. Furthermore, emphasizing the negative phase, holding a stretch at the turnaround, and an explosive positive phase seem to be best. (20)

Here’s how this looks:

  1. Lower the weight using a 4-5 second count. Flex hard during this phase of the rep.
  2. At the bottom, or turnaround point of the rep, hold a full stretch for 2 seconds. Do this on every rep.
  3. Explode the weight back to the start position.
  4. On your last rep, hold the stretch for as long as possible, or 15-45 seconds. 
  5. Do 6-8 reps this way, and use this technique for one set per workout per muscle group.
  6. Do 4-5 sets for larger muscle groups, 3 sets for smaller. 

Training frequency is important, but it’s tied to recovery. As long as recovery has occurred, you can get back to the gym in 48 hours, so this means a basic full body could be done 3 times a week. Since it’s suggested that you train individual body parts 2-3 times per week, using a full-body makes sense. The key is to keep set totals down, there’s no advantage to marathon training sessions. 

Let’s Recap Training

So, to recap, we’re looking at 3 moderate-set full-body workouts per week. We’re using basic exercises and progressively heavier loads. doing 6-8 rep sets with your sets done as suggested above. 

Factors That Affect Protein Synthesis

BCAAs/EAAs – One of the more recent developments in sports nutrition supplementation was the discovery of the relationship between EAAs (with a focus on BCAAs) and protein synthesis. There are nine Essential Amino Acids, including the three BCAAs. The EAAs cannot be made by the body, they must be supplied through diet and supplements. Additionally, the BCAAs, especially leucine, are known to be extremely effective for stimulating protein synthesis. Consequently, leucine has the greatest impact of any amino acid in terms of protein synthesis stimulation via the mTOR pathway (8,9). 

mTOR & Leucine

mTOR appears to be sensitive to levels of leucine. As leucine levels begin to decline in the body, mTOR is signaled that there’s not enough dietary protein present to synthesize new skeletal muscle protein. This effectively turns protein synthesis off. In addition, this appears to take place 2-3hours after protein ingestion. Furthermore, mTOR activation seems to decline even if there’s still adequate leucine in the body.

As soon as you ingest more BCAAs/EAAs (leucine, primarily), the elevated amino acid levels signal mTOR. The message is that there is now sufficient dietary protein. From here, protein synthesis turns back on. We now understood that all the EAAs are involved in protein synthesis, not just the BCAAs. However, it’s also understood that leucine is still the most anabolic of all amino acids. (9)

Protein/BCAA/EAA Timing

Ingesting consistently timed whole food protein, a protein powder, and/or a BCAA-EAA formula will keep you in an anabolic state. In fact, this stimulates muscle growth. Additionally, it makes sense to consume a protein source with simple carbs 45-60 minutes before training. A good starting point is 30-50 grams each of fast-digesting whey protein and simple carbs. In addition, a good BCAA/EAA formula can be used as an intra-workout drink. Of course, most of us use a pre-workout. In fact, a good pre-workout that contains a pump complex including Citrulline is important. This is because increased blood flow means enhanced nutrient/amino acid delivery. 

Post Workout

Post-workout, drink a shake with 20-30 grams of fast-digesting whey protein and a carb blend. This should include fast and slow-digesting carbs. Most bodybuilders/athletes eat a whole food meal within 2 hours after their shake. Indeed, the recovery process begins as soon as your workout ends. Of course, correct nutrition/supplementation is a key of complete recovery. In addition, full recovery includes a consistently good night’s sleep of at least 7 hours. Furthermore, it’s critical to understand this as short-changing your sleep means you’re short-changing your goals.

Insulin

Insulin is one of the three primary anabolic hormones produced by the body. It’s a protein hormone released by the pancreas when levels of glucose increase above normal. Now, carb consumption in the timeframe surrounding the workout is important as far as energy is concerned. In addition, it may also be important as far as mTOR activation is concerned. Simple carbs that are taken in during the hours surrounding your workout cause insulin spikes. Therefore, this means that glucose absorption, utilization, ATP production, amino acid absorption, and protein synthesis are all enhanced. (10).

Testosterone

Testosterone is often called the most powerful anabolic hormone produced by the body. That’s for good reason. It directly affects muscle growth by binding to receptors on the muscle cell surface. From there, it magnifies the signals in muscle tissue that stimulate protein synthesis. Additionally, testosterone increases GH (growth hormone), another of the body’s primary anabolic hormones. Further, it releases it in response to exercise. Like testosterone, growth hormone also increases protein synthesis. Subsequently, by stimulating the release of GH, testosterone also supports the process of protein synthesis in general. (11)

Protein Synthesis Rates

There’s a current trend among some athletes and informational websites that suggest protein timing does not matter. When it comes to maintaining an anabolic environment, and optimal protein synthesis, it definitely matters.

Regarding the rate of protein synthesis:

First, clinical studies have demonstrated that amino acids with extra leucine increased the rate of protein synthesis for 30-60 minutes after a workout. The rate returns to normal after about 120 minutes (12, 13). This means that if you want to keep protein synthesis going, you have to ingest more protein.

Therefore, for those athletes that are serious about protein synthesis, it’s a good idea to take in a protein every 3-4 hours. This can be a shake, protein meal or even a BCAA/EAA drink. Second, research indicates that amino acid pool levels remain high 4 hours after ingesting amino acids (12, 13,14,15). It would seem the old bodybuilding standard of protein timing isn’t so wrong after all.

Summary

To recap, if you want to optimally stimulate protein synthesis, you will need to maintain a consistent protein intake. The emphasis should be on the BCAAs/EAAs (especially leucine). You will also want to ingest simple carb sources (30-40 grams) in the hours surrounding your workouts (16). Additionally, you will want to maintain an optimal daily protein intake. A good point to be made here is to know how many EAAs is in your protein powder. Especially leucine, which should be 3-4 grams per serving (17, 18). As far as protein sources, quality whole food protein sources such as chicken, turkey, and lean beef are the best choices. Whey protein and casein protein as the best powder choices. Additionally, a blend of whey and casein makes sense. This is because casein is slower digesting than whey and will stay in your system longer. Finally, you can use a BCAA/EAA drink as you go about your day. 

Summary Cont.

Additionally, planning your pre, intra, and post-workout shakes is important. Make sure you’re getting in BCAAs/EAAs, a pump complex for enhanced nutrient delivery and creatine for enhanced endurance and performance. This is along with whatever else you take.

BTW, this nonsense of all these current pre-workouts or intra-workouts avoiding creatine is just that, nonsense. Creatine is one of the most proven-effective supplements on the market. Plus, it has a positive impact on protein synthesis. (19) Unless you take it at a separate time of the day, it should be in your pre or intra. Along with these tips, make sure your training is intense. Finally, allow yourself to recover. Make the most of protein synthesis stimulation so you can become the best bodybuilder you can be!

References:

  1. What Is Protein Synthesis. (2015, December 27). Retrieved May 02, 2017, from http://www.proteinsynthesis.org/what-is-protein-synthesis/
  2. Protein synthesis. (n.d.). Retrieved May 02, 2017, from http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/protein synthesis
  3. Tipton, K. D., & Wolfe, R. R. (2001, March). Exercise, protein metabolism, and muscle growth. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11255140
  4. Laplante, M., & Sabatini, D. M. (2009, October 15). MTOR signaling at a glance. Retrieved May 02, 2017, from http://jcs.biologists.org/content/122/20/3589
  5. Norton, L.E. & Layman, D.K. Leucine Regulates Translation Initiation of Protein Synthesis in Skeletal Muscle after Exercise. J. Nutr., 136:533S-537S, February 2006.
  6. Laplante, M., & Sabatini, D. M. (2009, October 15). MTOR signaling at a glance. Retrieved May 02, 2017, from http://jcs.biologists.org/content/122/20/3589
  7. Phillips, S., M, Tipton, K. D., Aarsland, A., Wolf, S. E., & Wolfe, R. R. Mixed muscle protein synthesis and breakdown after resistance exercise in humans. (1997) Am. J. Physiol. 273(1 Pt 1): E99-107.
  8. Jackman SR, Witard OC, Philp A, Wallis GA, Baar K, Tipton KD. Branched-Chain Amino Acid Ingestion Stimulates Muscle Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis following Resistance Exercise in Humans. Frontiers in Physiology. 2017;8:390. doi:10.3389/fphys.2017.00390.
  9. Anthony JC, Yoshizawa F, Anthony TG, Vary TC, Jefferson LS, Kimball SR. Leucine stimulates translation initiation in skeletal muscle of postabsorptive rats via a rapamycin-sensitive pathway. J Nutr. 2000;130(10):2413-2419.
  10. Fryburg DA, Jahn LA, Hill SA, Oliveras DM, Barrett EJ. Insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I enhance human skeletal muscle protein anabolism during hyperaminoacidemia by different mechanisms. J Clin Invest 1995;96:1722-9.
  11. http://e.hormone.tulane.edu/learning/androgens.html#effects
  12. Bohe, J., Low, J.F.A., Wolfe, R.R. & Rennie, M.J. Latency and duration of stimulation of human muscle protein synthesis during continuous infusion of amino acids. J Physiol., 532(Pt 2): 575-579. April 2001.
  13. Anthony, J.C., Lang, C.H., Crozier, S.J., Anthony, T.G., MacLean, D.A., Kimball, S.R. & Jefferson, L.S. Contribution of insulin to the translational control of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle by leucine. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab., 282: E1092-E1101, May 2002.
  14. Norton L.E., Layman D.K., Bunpo P., Anthony T.G., Brana D.V. & Garlick P.J. The Leucine Content of a Complete Meal Directs Peak Activation but Not Duration of Skeletal Muscle Protein Synthesis and Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Signaling in Rats. J. Nutr., [Epub ahead of print] April 2009.
  15. Paddon-Jones D., Sheffield-Moore M., Aarsland A., Wolfe R.R. & Ferrando A.A. Exogenous amino acids stimulate human muscle anabolism without interfering with the response to mixed meal ingestion. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab., 288: E761-E767, April 2005.
  16. Wolfe, R. R. (2006, February 01). Skeletal Muscle Protein Metabolism and Resistance Exercise1–3. Retrieved May 02, 2017, from http://jn.nutrition.org/content/136/2/525S.long
  17. Tipton, K.D., Ferrando, A.A., Phillips, S.M., Doyle Jr., D. & Wolfe, R.R. Postexercise net protein synthesis in human muscle from orally administered amino acids. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab., 276: E628-E634, April 1999.
  18. Bohe, J., Low, J.F.A., Wolfe, R.R. & Rennie, M.J. Latency and duration of stimulation of human muscle protein synthesis during continuous infusion of amino acids. J Physiol., 532(Pt 2): 575-579. April 2001.
  19. Ingwall, J. S., Weiner, C. D., Morales, M. F., Davis, E., & Stockdale, F. E. (1974, July). Specificity of creatine in the control of muscle protein synthesis. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4407046
  20. Cheng, J., & Du, J. (2007). Mechanical stretch simulates proliferation of venous smooth muscle cells through activation of the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor. Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology, 27(8), 1744–1751.

 

 

 

 

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