Protein Synthesis in Isolated Human Skeletal Muscle Tissue: Evaluation of an Experimental Model

Amino acids were incorporated into soluble proteins, myosin and myoglobin at constant rates for at least 4 h on incubation of isolated human skeletal muscle fibres. The time course of incorporation of leucine into proteins not attached to ribosomes was approximately constant, suggesting a continuous termination of proteins. A comparison between estimated pool size of ribosomes and incorporation rate of leucine into proteins indicated that initiation of peptides occurred even in the absence of insulin.