Research
Hormonal
Amino acid availability, specifically leucine and arginine, regulates cellular protein synthesis and autophagy via the mTORC1 signaling pathway, where depletion inactivates mTORC1 to trigger autophagy and reduce protein biosynthesis.
To maximize muscle protein synthesis, ensure your diet provides sufficient leucine and arginine to activate the mTORC1 pathway. If these amino acids are depleted, your body shifts to breaking down its own proteins via autophagy. This means the quality and specific amino acid profile of your protein intake matter as much as the total amount.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
This homeostatic condition is maintained through an active mTORC1 complex. Under amino acid depletion, mTORC1 is inactivated. This increases the breakdown of cellular proteins through autophagy and reduces protein biosynthesis.
Why this rating
This is a comprehensive review of established biochemical mechanisms with extensive citations.
Source
Amino acid homeostasis and signalling in mammalian cells and organisms
Stefan Bröer et al. · Biochemical Journal · 2017
DOI 10.1042/bcj20160822
narrative_reviewCited 496×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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