Computational modeling of dynamic exercise-responsive signalling networks

Synopsis

Exercise is a whole-body stressor that imposes multiple biochemical and biophysical stimuli on the cells of the body. Consistently repeated bouts of exercise, called training, causes cells to become fitter, meaning they become better able to defend homeostasis during future bouts of exercise. The mission of the Laboratory for Quantitative Exercise Biology is to develop predictive models of exercise training adaptations. The models we develop span the levels of biological organization, from cells to whole body. In this talk, I will discuss two kinetic models of cellular adaptation to resistance training developed by the lab, one of leucine-mediated signaling and protein metabolism, and the other of muscle-fibre-specific mechanotransduction. These models facilitate the improved understanding of how protein signalling systems translate exercise stimuli into cellular responses, and they may someday help inform personalized exercise training programs. In the meantime, I foresee collaborative opportunities for biophysicists to inform and improve the models.