Supporting sport science research is the driving force behind the creation and the operations of the Sylvan Adams Sports Science Institute (SASSI). Each year SASSI McGill offers an internal grant competition for our full and associate members to advance the knowledge of sport science in their respective research fields. Applications for the Sport Science Grants must be focused on applied sport research, with special consideration for elite endurance sport.
The Role of Epigenetics in Performance, or When Your Guts 'Speak' to Your Muscles
Researcher Name: Dr. Benoit Gentil
Year received: 2021
Project stage: Underway
Summary of the project:
We were able to generate cellular models of the muscle (3D models derived from human biopsies), that can test the potential of a supplementation approach according to an individual’s specific genetics moving sport science toward a personalised approach. We also identify the cellular characteristics of the effect of gut microbiota metabolites, called Short Chain Fatty Acids. Gut-microbiota have received increasing interest due to their potential in ameliorating athletic performances through bidirectional communication with muscles. How the gut microbiota increases endurance performance is unclear. Our main hypothesis is that microbiota metabolites, Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs), promote muscle biogenesis and induce long-term modifications of gene expression associated with endurance and strength. This potential change in gene expression could make a gut microbiota supplementation a novel approach to enhance training efficiency. In particular, we identified acetate as a SCFA associated with improving muscle contractility in vitro and ex vivo. In addition, we identified a genetic susceptibility to SCFA, and the functional molecular landscape modified by SCFA-dependant epigenetic mechanisms.
Project’s anticipated contribution to sports science:
Y-Box Binding Protein 3 (cold shock protein), Hydroxyacyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Trifunctional Multienzyme Complex Subunit Beta (HADHB) and Dihydrolipoamide Acetyltransferase were strongly modified by short chain fatty acid treatment, which suggests a key role of these proteins in metabolic sensing and myogenesis. The genes encoding these three proteins have been linked to muscle performance and fat deposit in bovine cattle and rats, which suggest that gene variants in humans may be relevant to human performance.
Conference Presentations:
Cheng-Boivin Z.*, McKay G.*, Massie R., Gentil B.J. (2023) Indentification d’une mutation de HADHB Responsable d’une rare forme de neuropathie sensorimotrice et de rhabdomyolyse métabolique. 90e Edition journée du congrès de l’Association canadienne-française pour l’avancement des sciences (ACFAS). Colloque Santé du Génome. Montreal, Canada
McKay G.*, Cheng-Boivin Z.*, Dagher R.*, Massie R, and Gentil B.J. (2023) Role of HADHB gene in motor neuron metabolism of long chain fatty acids. Mind In Motion, Montreal, Canada
Azhari S.*, Cheng-Boivin Z., Hannaian S., Churchward-Venne T.A., Gentil B.J. (2023) Effect of the Ketone Bodies Acetoacetate and Beta-hydroxybutyrate on the Differentiation of C2C12 Myoblasts and Myogenesis. Mind In Motion, Montreal, Canada
Cheng-Boivin, Z.*, Larochelle, N. § and Gentil, B.J. (2023) The epigenetic effects of short-chain fatty acids in skeletal muscle: novel changes in acetylome profile, Mind In Motion, Montreal, Canada
Hannaian J, Lov Z., Cheng-Boivin Z., Morais J.A., Gentil B.J, and Churchward-Venne T.A.(2023) Ketone monoester co-ingestion with or without dietary protein augments myofibrillar protein synthesis rates and alters mTOR translocation and colocalization in human skeletal muscle. Mind In Motion, Montreal, Canada
Cheng-Boivin, Z.*, Larochelle, N. § and Gentil, B.J. (2022) The epigenetic effects of short-chain fatty acids in skeletal muscle: novel changes in acetylome profile. 18th International Biochemistry of Exercise Conference (IBEC), Toronto, Canada.
Hannaian, S., Lov, J., Cheng-Boivin, Z.*, Hawley, S., Malenda, D., Morais, J., Gentil, B.J., and Churchward-Venne, T. (2022) Ketone monoester co-ingestion with protein maintains protein-mediated mTOR colocalization with Rheb in human skeletal muscle. 18th International Biochemistry of Exercise Conference, Toronto, Canada.
Cheng-Boivin Z.*, Dagher R.**, Massie R., Gentil B.J. (2022) Indentification d’une mutation dans le gene HADHB responsable d’une rare forme de neuropathie sensorimotrice et de rhabdomyolyse métabolique. 26e Edition journée DE LA SOCIÉTÉ FRANCOPHONE DU NERF PÉRIPHÉRIQUE.
What’s Next in Relation to this Project:
We will identify which short chain fatty acid supplementation is more efficient and move forward to clinical studies in athletes. We will also confirm the role in athleticism of genes susceptible to SCFA treatment in order to detect talent and to provide personalized supplementation strategies for athletes with unique genetic composition.
