KEY POINTS: Ribosome biogenesis and MYC transcription are associated with acute resistance exercise (RE) and are distinct from endurance exercise in human skeletal muscle throughout a 24 h time course of recovery. A PCR-based method for relative ribosomal DNA (rDNA) copy number estimation was validated by whole genome sequencing and revealed that rDNA dosage is positively correlated with ribosome biogenesis in response to RE. Acute RE modifies rDNA methylation patterns in enhancer, intergenic spacer and non-canonical MYC-associated regions, but not the promoter. Myonuclear-specific rDNA methylation patterns with acute mechanical overload in mice corroborate and expand on rDNA findings with RE in humans. A genetic predisposition for hypertrophic responsiveness may exist based on rDNA gene dosage.

ABSTRACT: Ribosomes are the macromolecular engines of protein synthesis. Skeletal muscle ribosome biogenesis is stimulated by exercise, although the contribution of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) copy number and methylation to exercise-induced rDNA transcription is unclear. To investigate the genetic and epigenetic regulation of ribosome biogenesis with exercise, a time course of skeletal muscle biopsies was obtained from 30 participants (18 men and 12 women; 31 ± 8 years, 25 ± 4 kg m ) at rest and 30 min, 3 h, 8 h and 24 h after acute endurance (n = 10, 45 min cycling, 70% ) or resistance exercise (n = 10, 4 × 7 × 2 exercises); 10 control participants underwent biopsies without exercise. rDNA transcription and dosage were assessed using quantitative PCR and whole genome sequencing. rDNA promoter methylation was investigated using massARRAY EpiTYPER and global rDNA CpG methylation was assessed using reduced-representation bisulphite sequencing. Ribosome biogenesis and MYC transcription were associated primarily with resistance but not endurance exercise, indicating preferential up-regulation during hypertrophic processes. With resistance exercise, ribosome biogenesis was associated with rDNA gene dosage, as well as epigenetic changes in enhancer and non-canonical MYC-associated areas in rDNA, but not the promoter. A mouse model of in vivo metabolic RNA labelling and genetic myonuclear fluorescence labelling validated the effects of an acute hypertrophic stimulus on ribosome biogenesis and Myc transcription, and also corroborated rDNA enhancer and Myc-associated methylation alterations specifically in myonuclei. The present study provides the first information on skeletal muscle genetic and rDNA gene-wide epigenetic regulation of ribosome biogenesis in response to exercise, revealing novel roles for rDNA dosage and CpG methylation.