Fig. 2: HIIT and RT regulate distinct global, phospho-, and acetyl-proteomic adaptations in human skeletal muscle.

A Diagram of exercise training study design. Created in BioRender. Pataky, M. (2025). B The change (Δ) in insulin sensitivity (Glucose Rd), aerobic capacity (VO₂peak), mitochondrial respiration (State 3 CI + II), mitochondrial protein synthesis rate (fractional synthesis rate, FSR), mitochondrial density (mitochondrial area/muscle fiber area), muscle strength (Leg Press), Lean Mass, and % Fat Mass in response to 12 weeks of HIIT or RT is displayed. Dots represent individual participants. *P < 0.05. C–K The global proteomic, phosphoproteomic, and acetylproteomic responses in skeletal muscle to HIIT (red panels, n = 7) or RT (blue panels, n = 7) is shown. Dots in volcano plots represent individual proteins, phosphopeptides, or acetylpeptides. Proteins or PTM peptides with an adjusted p-value of <0.05 (equivalent to -log₁₀ of 1.301) and an absolute fold-change (FC) ≥ ± 0.3 (equivalent to log₂FC of 0.3785) were considered differentially expressed and colored in the graphs. C Global proteomic changes with HIIT. Inset; Among >5000 global proteins identified, approximately 9% were regulated by HIIT. D Global proteomic changes with RT. Inset; Among >5000 global proteins identified, approximately 3% were regulated by RT. E Venn diagram shows the number of unique and similar HIIT- and RT-regulated proteins. F Phosphoproteomic changes with HIIT. Inset; Among >9000 phosphopeptides identified, approximately 3% were regulated by HIIT. G Phosphoproteomic changes with RT. Inset; Among >11,000 phosphopeptides identified, approximately 7% were regulated by RT. H Number of unique and similar HIIT- and RT-regulated proteins with at least one exercise training-regulated phospho motif (phosphoproteins). I Acetylproteomic changes with HIIT. Inset; Among >2200 acetylpeptides identified, approximately 22% were regulated by HIIT. J Acetylproteomic changes with RT. Inset; Among >1800 acetylpeptides identified, approximately 1% were regulated by RT. K Venn diagram shows the number of unique and similar HIIT- and RT-regulated proteins with at least one exercise training-regulated acetyl motif (acetylproteins). Statistical significance was assessed by paired two-sided Student’s t-test in (b). Two-sided paired t-test with Benjamini–Hochberg correction for multiple comparisons was used for (c–j). Source data are provided as a Source Data file.