The elimination of damaged cell components is essential for the maintenance of the body's tissues and organs. An international research team led by the University of Bonn has made significant findings on mechanisms for the clearing of cellular wastes, showing that strength training activates such mechanisms. The findings could form the basis for new therapies for heart failure and nerve diseases, and even afford benefits for manned space missions.
A corresponding article has been published in the latest issue of the journal Current Biology. Muscles and nerves are long-lasting, high-performance organs whose cellular components are subject to constant wear and tear. The protein BAG3 plays a critical role in the elimination of damaged components, identifying these and ensuring that they are enclosed by cellular membranes to form an "autophagosome".
Autophagosomes are like a garbage bag in which cellular waste is collected for later shredding and recycling. The research team led by Professor Jörg Höhfeld of the University of Bonn Institute of Cell Biology has shown that strength training activates BAG3 in the muscles. This has important ramifications for cellular waste disposal because BAG3 has to be activated to efficiently bind damaged cell components and promote membrane envelopment.
An active elimination or clearing system is essential for the long-term preservation of muscle tissues. "Impairment of the BAG3 system does indeed cause swiftly progressing muscle weakness in .