Identification of molecular mechanisms driving skeletal muscle atrophy

Skeletal muscle atrophy is a prevalent and debilitating condition, which can be triggered by diverse stresses including aging, muscle disuse, malnutrition, critical illness, and many chronic illnesses. Despite broad clinical significance, the molecular basis of skeletal muscle atrophy remains poorly understood and no pharmacological interventions currently exist to counteract it. This thesis investigates the molecular mechanisms driving skeletal muscle atrophy, with a particular focus on the role of the stress-induced transcriptional regulator Activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) and the ATF4-target gene Cdkn1a/p21.