Aging is Associated with a Downregulation of Genes Linked to Protein Ubiquitination and Glucose Metabolism in Human Skeletal Muscle

Skeletal muscle is known to change through the natural course of aging. However, our understanding of which specific biological processes may contribute to these changes are not fully understood. PURPOSE: To identify biological processes in aging skeletal muscle that are associated with genes downregulated in the skeletal muscle of older adults. METHODS: Skeletal muscle biopsy samples (vastus lateralis) were analyzed from healthy younger (27±3yr; 8M, 1F; BMI: 24.5±2.0) and older adults (68±5yr; 6M, 3F; BMI: 25.9±4.7 kg•m^(-2)). Muscle biopsies were obtained after an overnight fast under resting conditions and controlling for physical activity. Whole transcriptome next-generation sequencing (HISeq2500, Illumina) was performed on cDNA produced from isolated RNA. Differential gene expression between young and old was identified (with young as reference) using an adjusted p-value o