William Apró

The overall aim of my research is to gain a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate protein synthesis and protein breakdown in human skeletal muscle. Specifically, I am investigating how amino acid and glycogen availability affects these processes in different populations, including both young and elderly men and women. A wide range of analytical techniques are used to study these mechanisms in both whole muscle and in specific fiber types.

Ultimately, the aim of my research is to provide new and translatable knowledge that can be used to promote healthy ageing as well as athletic performance.

Current projects

1. Anabolic potential of skeletal muscle growth in healthy ageing.
2. Fiber type specific regulation of protein synthesis in young and elderly muscle...
3. Muscle protein breakdown and the role of glycogen availability and amino acid supplementation.
4. Fiber type specific responses to energy and nutrient availability.
5. Anabolic resistance in sarcopenia and obesity.
   
   

Representative publications

• Flockhart M, Nilsson LC, Tais S, Ekblom B, Apró W, Larsen FJ. Excessive exercise training causes mitochondrial functional impairment and decreases glucose tolerance in healthy volunteers. Cell Metab. 2021 May 4;33(5):957-970.e6.
• Horwath O, Apró W, Moberg M, Godhe M, Helge T, Ekblom M, Hirschberg AL, Ekblom B. Fiber type-specific hypertrophy and increased capillarization in skeletal muscle following testosterone administration in young women. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2020 May 1;128(5):1240-1250.
• Moberg M, Apró W, Ekblom B, van Hall G, Holmberg HC, Blomstrand E. Activation of mTORC1 by leucine is potentiated by branched-chain amino acids and even more so by essential amino acids following resistance exercise. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2016 Jun 1;310(11):C874-84.
• Apró W, Moberg M, Hamilton DL, Ekblom B, Rooyackers O, Holmberg HC, Blomstrand E. Leucine does not affect mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 assembly but is required for maximal ribosomal protein s6 kinase 1 activity in human skeletal muscle following resistance exercise. FASEB J. 2015 Oct;29(10):4358-73.