The relation of muscle protein degradation and 26S proteasome

The ubiquitin-dependent 20s/26s proteasome system is the capital pathway of exo-lysosome proteolysis within eukaryotic cell. Under conditions of denervation, starvation, glucocorticoid, infection, tumor, burn and so on, the proteasome system was stimulated to degrade protein, which results in muscle lose fast. Glucocorticoid, insulin, thyroid hormone, TNFα and IL-1β play important roles in the regulation of muscle protein degradation and the proteasome system. Inhibition or activation of the proteasome system was approved to be a novel means of treatment with cachexia and negative nitrogen balance.