Protein synthesis and degradation in isolated muscle. Effect of ω3 and ω6 fatty acids

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Abstract
The ability of derivatives of the essential fatty acids linoleic acid (C18:2 .omega.6) and .alpha.-linolenic acid (C18:3 .omega.3) to stimulate rates of protein synthesis and degradation was investigated in isolated muscles from fasted rabbits. Both .omega.6 derivatives examined, arachidonic acid (C20:4, .omega.6) and dihomo-.gamma.-linolenic acid (C20:3 .omega.6), when added at concentrations up to 1 .mu.M, stimulated the rate of protein synthesis and the release of prostaglandin E2.alpha. (PGF2.alpha.). Metabolites of the .omega.6 series, namely eicosapentaenoic acid (C20: 5 .cntdot.3) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6, .omega.3), were without effect on the rate of protein synthesis and resulted in a decrease in the release of PGF2.alpha.. None of the fatty acids had a significant effect on the rate of protein degradation. Although insulin (100 .mu.munits/ml) also stimulated rates of protein synthesis when added alone, none of the .omega.3 or .omega.6 fatty acids, when added with insulin at concentrations of 0.2 .mu.M, potentiated the effect of the hormone.