Figure 1.

The temporal relationship between translational efficiency and capacity during skeletal muscle hypertrophy. During the initial phase of hypertrophy there is increased translational efficiency resulting in enhanced polysome formation (more ribosomes per mRNA). During the intermediate phase, as translational efficiency begins to return to baseline, translational capcity begins to increase as the result of ribosome biogensis; during this phase protein accretion begins to occur. In the late phase, peak translational capacity (maximum number of ribosomes) is reached which promotes further polysome formation, resulting in significant protein accretion leading to myofiber hypertrophy.