The Arkansas Integrative Metabolic Research Center (AIMRC) will host John McCarthy, an associate professor of physiology from the University of Kentucky at 12:55 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, in Bell Engineering Building, room 2267. McCarthy's research focuses on microRNA-1 (miR-1) function in an inducible, skeletal muscle-specific miR-1 knockout (KO) mouse to identify a novel post-translational mechanism of adult skeletal muscle metabolism regulation mediated by miR-1. 

Abstract: MicroRNA-1 (miR-1) is the most abundant miRNA in adult skeletal muscle. To determine the function of miR-1 in adult skeletal muscle, we generated an inducible, skeletal muscle-specific miR-1 knockout (KO) mouse. Integration of RNA-seq and AGO2 eCLIP-seq identified miR-1 target genes involved with glycolysis and pyruvate metabolism. The loss of miR-1 in skeletal muscle induced cancer-like metabolic reprogramming, as shown by higher pyruvate kinase muscle isozyme M2 (PKM2) protein levels and metabolic inflexibility as a result of pyruvate oxidation resistance. While the genetic loss of miR-1 reduced endurance exercise performance in mice, the physiological down-regulation of miR-1 expression in response to a hypertrophic stimulus in both humans and mice causes a similar metabolic reprogramming that supports muscle cell growth. Collectively, these data identify a novel post-translational mechanism of adult skeletal muscle metabolism regulation mediated by miR-1.

Biography: McCarthy received a B.S. in biology from UC Irvine, an M.S. in physical education for Cal State Fullerton and a Ph.D. from University of Oregon in exercise physiology. He is currently a professor in the Department of Physiology at the University of Kentucky. The focus of his lab is to better understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate skeletal muscle mass in response to exercise and with aging.

This event is supported by NIGMS of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number P20GM139768. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Pizza and beverages will be served. Please contact Kimberley Fuller, fullerk@uark.edu, for more information.

For those unable to attend in person, this seminar will also be available via Zoom.