Effect of Insect-derived Protein Supplements on Protein Synthesis and mTORC1 Activation

The Ability of Insect-derived Protein Supplements (IPC80 and Whole Buffalo Powder, Ynsect®) to Activate mTORC1 and Protein Synthesis in Muscle

The purpose of this study is to determine the ability of insect-derived protein supplements (IPC80 and Whole Buffalo Powder Ynsect®) to activate the mTORC1 pathway and protein synthesis in muscle cells.

To achieve this aim, participants will consume a supplemental dose (0.25 g/kg body weight) of IPC80,Whole Buffalo Powder or whey protein. Blood samples will be drawn before and 15, 30, 60 and 90 minutes after the supplementation.

Protein synthesis will be assessed using stably transfected C2C12 muscle cells with a plasmid (pcDNA3 luciferase) and to determine the ability of a protein source to activate mTORC1, stably transfected C2C12 muscle cells with a plasmid (pcDNA3-TOP luciferase) where the luciferase mRNA contains a 5'TOP. 5'TOP which is specifically regulated by mTORC1 activity will be used.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Effect of Food Supplement
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Whey protein; Dietary supplement: IPC80; Dietary supplement: Whole Buffalo Powder

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study is to determine the ability of insect-derived protein supplements (IPC80 and Whole Buffalo Powder, Ynsect®) to activate the mTORC1 pathway and protein synthesis in muscle cells.

To achieve this aim, participants will consume a supplemental dose (0.25 g/kg body weight) of IPC80, Whole Buffalo Powder or whey protein. Blood samples will be drawn before and 15, 30, 60 and 90 minutes after the supplementation.

It is expected that this project will determine whether insect-derived protein supplements (IPC80 and Whole Buffalo Powder, Ynsect®) have the ability to induce activation of the mTORC1 pathway and protein synthesis in muscle cells. Results from this study will give further insight into the usage of this novel sustainable protein source to support muscle protein synthesis after exercise.

Male and female participants between the ages of 18-30 years of age will be enrolled in the study. The study is a randomized double-blind crossover design with neither the subjects nor the investigators knowing who is on which treatment (IPC80, Whole Buffalo Powder or Whey).

I. Baseline blood draw The subjects will arrive in the laboratory following an overnight fast. The antecubital vein will be cannulated, and an initial 5 mL baseline blood sample will be collected.

II. Supplementation After baseline blood draw, subjects will be provided with a supplement, 0.25 g/kg body weight of either whey protein, IPC80 or Whole Buffalo Powder dissolved in 250ml of water.

III. Postprandial blood draws Following consumption of the supplement, the participants will remain in the laboratory for another 1.5 hours, they may bring books or electronic devices to pass the time. Four more blood samples of 5 mL each will be obtained at 15, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after supplementation, totaling five blood draws of 5mL per visit (25mL per visit), and 75 mL of blood drawn in total for each subject completing the entire study.

Blood will be collected in 5 mL serum separating tubes. All blood samples will be allowed to clot for 1hr before centrifugation at 1000 x g for 10 minutes and the serum will be frozen and kept at -30°C until processed. Treatments will be randomized to avoid an order effect and a washout period of at least 48h between trials will be used to minimize the effect of the previous treatment.

To determine protein synthesis, we have stably transfected C2C12 muscle cells with a plasmid (pcDNA3 luciferase) that we use to measure global protein synthesis. C2C12Luc cells will be plated in 24-well plates and differentiated over 4 days. Differentiated C2C12 cells will be fasted by washing with PBS and then treating them with Test Media (20% DMEM; 80% Hank's buffered salt solution (HBSS)) for 15 minutes. Fasted muscle cells will then be treated with Test Media containing 0, 2.5, 5, or 10% baseline or fed serum for 60 minutes. Cells will be collected in passive lysis buffer and firefly luciferase activity will be determined as described previously (Philp et al., 2013).

To determine the ability of a protein source to activate mTORC1 we have stably transfected C2C12 muscle cells with a plasmid (pcDNA3-TOP luciferase) where the luciferase mRNA contains a 5' terminal polypyrimidine tract (TOP). 5'TOP mRNA are specifically regulated by mTORC1 activity (Jefferies et al., 1994). As above, differentiated C2C12TOPLuc muscle cells in 24-well plates will be stimulated using the baseline or fed serum as described above. The degree of mTORC1 activation will be determined as the difference in slopes between the baseline and fed sera. The induction of mTORC1 and protein synthesis by whey and IPC80 and Whole Buffalo Powder will be compared directly within individuals and then across groups.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 20
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Davis, California, United States, 95616
      • Hickey Laboratory

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 30 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy active male or female
• Normal weight (BMI between 18 and 25 kg/m2)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Receiving any medication that may interfere with the study.
• Health or dietary restrictions that would be affected by the supplementation protocol.
• Allergy to shellfish (the chitins in the mealworm exoskeleton can activate shellfish allergies)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Whey protein; This arm will be given a supplemental dose of whey protein (0.25 g/kg body weight)	Dietary supplement: Whey protein; The participant will consume a supplemental dose of whey protein (0.25 g/kg body weight)
Experimental: IPC80; This arm will be given a supplemental dose of IPC80, an insect-derived protein source (0.25 g/kg body weight)	Dietary supplement: IPC80; The participant will consume a supplemental dose of IPC80 (0.25 g/kg body weight)
Experimental: Whole Buffalo Powder; This arm will be given a supplemental dose of Whole Buffalo Powder, an insect-derived protein source (0.25 g/kg body weight)	Dietary supplement: Whole Buffalo Powder; The participant will consume a supplemental dose of Whole Buffalo Powder (0.25 g/kg body weight)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Muscle protein synthesis	To measure muscle protein synthesis, stably transfected C2C12 muscle cells with a plasmid (pcDNA3 luciferase) will be used. C2C12Luc cells will be plated in 24-well plates and differentiated over 4 days. Differentiated C2C12 cells will be fasted by washing with PBS and then treating them with Test Media (20% DMEM) for 15 minutes. Fasted muscle cells will then be treated with Test Media containing 0, 2.5, 5, or 10% baseline or fed serum (from blood samples at 15, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after supplementation) for 60 minutes. Cells will be collected in passive lysis buffer and firefly luciferase activity will be determined.	Baseline (0 hour) to 15 minutes after supplementation
Muscle protein synthesis	To measure muscle protein synthesis, stably transfected C2C12 muscle cells with a plasmid (pcDNA3 luciferase) will be used. C2C12Luc cells will be plated in 24-well plates and differentiated over 4 days. Differentiated C2C12 cells will be fasted by washing with PBS and then treating them with Test Media (20% DMEM) for 15 minutes. Fasted muscle cells will then be treated with Test Media containing 0, 2.5, 5, or 10% baseline or fed serum (from blood samples at 15, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after supplementation) for 60 minutes. Cells will be collected in passive lysis buffer and firefly luciferase activity will be determined.	Baseline (0 hour) to 30 minutes after supplementation
Muscle protein synthesis	To measure muscle protein synthesis, stably transfected C2C12 muscle cells with a plasmid (pcDNA3 luciferase) will be used. C2C12Luc cells will be plated in 24-well plates and differentiated over 4 days. Differentiated C2C12 cells will be fasted by washing with PBS and then treating them with Test Media (20% DMEM) for 15 minutes. Fasted muscle cells will then be treated with Test Media containing 0, 2.5, 5, or 10% baseline or fed serum (from blood samples at 15, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after supplementation) for 60 minutes. Cells will be collected in passive lysis buffer and firefly luciferase activity will be determined.	Baseline (0 hour) to 60 minutes after supplementation
Muscle protein synthesis	To measure muscle protein synthesis, stably transfected C2C12 muscle cells with a plasmid (pcDNA3 luciferase) will be used. C2C12Luc cells will be plated in 24-well plates and differentiated over 4 days. Differentiated C2C12 cells will be fasted by washing with PBS and then treating them with Test Media (20% DMEM) for 15 minutes. Fasted muscle cells will then be treated with Test Media containing 0, 2.5, 5, or 10% baseline or fed serum (from blood samples at 15, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after supplementation) for 60 minutes. Cells will be collected in passive lysis buffer and firefly luciferase activity will be determined.	Baseline (0 hour) to 90 minutes after supplementation

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
mTORC1 activity	To measure the ability of a protein source (whey protein, IPC80 or Whole Buffalo Powder) to activate mTORC1, stably transfected C2C12 muscle cells with a plasmid (pcDNA3-TOP luciferase) where the luciferase mRNA contains a 5'TOP. 5'TOP mRNA , which specifically regulated by mTORC1 activity, will be used. Differentiated C2C12TOPLuc muscle cells in 24-well plates will be stimulated using the baseline or fed serum (rom blood samples at 15, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after supplementation). The degree of mTORC1 activation will be determined as the difference in slopes between the baseline and fed sera.	Baseline (0 hour) to 15 minutes after supplementation
mTORC1 activity	To measure the ability of a protein source (whey protein, IPC80 or Whole Buffalo Powderl) to activate mTORC1, stably transfected C2C12 muscle cells with a plasmid (pcDNA3-TOP luciferase) where the luciferase mRNA contains a 5'TOP. 5'TOP mRNA , which specifically regulated by mTORC1 activity, will be used. Differentiated C2C12TOPLuc muscle cells in 24-well plates will be stimulated using the baseline or fed serum (rom blood samples at 15, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after supplementation). The degree of mTORC1 activation will be determined as the difference in slopes between the baseline and fed sera.	Baseline (0 hour) to 30 minutes after supplementation
mTORC1 activity	To measure the ability of a protein source (whey protein, IPC80 or Whole Buffalo Powder) to activate mTORC1, stably transfected C2C12 muscle cells with a plasmid (pcDNA3-TOP luciferase) where the luciferase mRNA contains a 5'TOP. 5'TOP mRNA , which specifically regulated by mTORC1 activity, will be used. Differentiated C2C12TOPLuc muscle cells in 24-well plates will be stimulated using the baseline or fed serum (rom blood samples at 15, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after supplementation). The degree of mTORC1 activation will be determined as the difference in slopes between the baseline and fed sera.	Baseline (0 hour) to 60 minutes after supplementation
mTORC1 activity	To measure the ability of a protein source (whey protein, IPC80 or Whole Buffalo Powder) to activate mTORC1, stably transfected C2C12 muscle cells with a plasmid (pcDNA3-TOP luciferase) where the luciferase mRNA contains a 5'TOP. 5'TOP mRNA , which specifically regulated by mTORC1 activity, will be used. Differentiated C2C12TOPLuc muscle cells in 24-well plates will be stimulated using the baseline or fed serum (rom blood samples at 15, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after supplementation). The degree of mTORC1 activation will be determined as the difference in slopes between the baseline and fed sera.	Baseline (0 hour) to 90 minutes after supplementation

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of California, Davis
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Keith Baar, PhD, UC Davis

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Philp A, MacKenzie MG, Belew MY, Towler MC, Corstorphine A, Papalamprou A, Hardie DG, Baar K. Glycogen content regulates peroxisome proliferator activated receptor- partial differential (PPAR- partial differential) activity in rat skeletal muscle. PLoS One. 2013 Oct 17;8(10):e77200. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077200. eCollection 2013.
• Jefferies HB, Reinhard C, Kozma SC, Thomas G. Rapamycin selectively represses translation of the "polypyrimidine tract" mRNA family. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1994 May 10;91(10):4441-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.91.10.4441.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 1, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 30, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): September 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 6, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 11, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): July 13, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 8, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 5, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Protein supplement; Protein synthesis; mTORC1 activity; Insect-derived protein
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins; Proteins; Food; Diet, Food, and Nutrition; Physiological Phenomena; Food and Beverages; Dairy Products; Milk; Dietary Proteins; Milk Proteins; Animal Proteins, Dietary; Whey; Whey Proteins
• Other Study ID Numbers: 220601

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No