Signal transduction and adaptation to exercise: background and methods

In this chapter we aim to answer questions such as ‘why and how do we adapt to exercise?' We begin by highlighting limitations to the classical view of supercompensation in exercise training, before introducing the signal transduction hypothesis of adaptation. Related to this we discuss how exercise generates signals that are sensed by sensor proteins, conveyed and computed by signal transduction proteins and how adaption regulators regulate transcription, translation or protein synthesis, protein degradation and other cellular functions such as the cell cycle. All this makes cells and organs adapt to exercise. In the second half of the chapter we introduce RT-qPCR, which is a method used to measure mRNAs, and Western blotting, which is used to measure proteins. e chapter concludes with a discussion of high throughput approaches, including microarrays and proteomics, and their application in exercise physiology. To prepare for this chapter you should read Chapter 1, which introduces molecular exercise physiology and basic wet laboratory research methods, and Chapter 2, which introduces sport and exercise genetics and explains PCR (polymerase chain reaction) which is the basis for RT-qPCR.