Bioenergetics and muscle cell types

Abstract

Potential complexities in biochemical and bioenergetic interpretation due to fiber type heterogeneity are not significant for human muscle. Paradigms for understanding muscle bioenergetics then can be understood from a set of basic premises of biochemical energy balance 1)ATP provides the energy for all forms of muscle work: 2) chemical energy is stored in cells as phosphocreatine, a biochemical capacitor: 3) the sum of the coupled ATPases sets the demand side of the balance and defines energetic states; and 4) this demand is supplied by aerobic metabolism and the products of the coupled ATPases provide control signals for regulation of energy balance. We speculate that cytoplasmic signals at work in energy balance may also control muscle plasticity.