Effects of physical exercise on the autophagy pathway

Abstract

Autophagy is a cellular degradation mechanism that aids in the removal of cytoplasmic contents such as macromolecules and organelles. Currently, Dr. Adelino Sanchez Ramos da Silva is the principal investigator of five projects that are supported by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) which aim to evaluate the effects of physical exercise on the autophagy in multiple tissues. The primary research focus of Dr. Joe Quadrilatero is to investigate the biochemical and molecular mechanisms regulating cell death processes (i.e., apoptosis and autophagy) in tissues, primarily skeletal muscle. Specifically, his laboratory is interested in how mitophagy (a selective autophagy mechanism for degradation of mitochondria), mitochondrial function and oxidative stress influence cell death signaling in response to injury/stress, aging, and disease. The aims of this proposal are: 1) to establish a research partnership whereby one of Dr. Adelino's graduate students, Ana Paula Pinto (Grantee FAPESP, process number 2017/19869-8), would apply for a Research Internships Abroad (BEPE) to work with Dr. Joe Quadrilatero in order to evaluate the effects of overtraining on the skeletal muscle mitophagy; and 2) to establish a collaborative research project that will be submitted to research funding agencies in Canada and Brazil. In summary, this research proposal will be valid for two years and will result in two visits from each of the researchers to Canada and Brazil, respectively. (AU)