For a long time, physical activity and sports in general have been part of the lives of many of us. Whether it's for medical recommendation, as a hobby, or even as an entertainment that makes an entire country come to a complete stop for 90 minutes, movement occupies a central place in our lives both from a biological and cultural point of view. The popularity that physical activity has gained in recent decades is partly due to the numerous benefits it brings, and while it is not necessary to be a high-performance athlete to experience them, it is advisable to engage in planned, regular, and sustained physical exercise or sports over time to achieve certain persistent and lasting physical effects. But, as Babasónicos said, the question is: do you know what the molecular mechanisms behind these effects are?
To start, we can talk about one of the most interesting changes that occurs at the gene level. Some genes increase or decrease their expression, allowing the cell to generate better adaptations. These changes depend, among other factors, on the type of exercise. For example, with strength training, signaling pathways are activated that favor the synthesis of proteins involved in muscle mass increase, a process known as hypertrophy. On the other hand, endurance exercises (or colloquially "cardio," which we all hate) tend to stimulate the expression of genes related to oxidative metabolism, oxygen transport, and the formation of new blood vessels.
However, when we think of sports or physical activity in terms of biology, the true protagonists of this story are the mitochondria. They are organelles whose main function is to produce energy in the cell. Many studies have shown that regular and sustained training, along with individual genetic factors, promotes mitochondrial biogenesis, that is, the increase in the number and volume of mitochondria. This translates to greater energy efficiency that contributes to both physical performance and overall metabolic health. Thus, the more frequent and sustained the training, the greater the mitochondrial adaptations experienced, which clearly means your mitochondria are not the same as those of Leo Messi or Michael Phelps.
I also find it interesting to mention some small but very powerful molecules called myokines, which are produced by skeletal muscle in response to contraction. Among their multiple functions, myokines participate in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism, enhance insulin sensitivity, and help regulate the immune response. In summary, they are so important that they can influence the functioning of practically the entire organism.
To conclude, it is important to emphasize that these are just some of the many molecular mechanisms involved in exercise adaptations, but they can still help us understand the complex network activated when we move. And perhaps, after all, questioning stereotypes, being a nerd and a “gym rat” are actually not mutually exclusive concepts, but rather complementary.
By Manuela Beltrán, student of the Biotechnology Degree at UADE
Comments