An in vitro preparation of the extensor digitorum communis muscle from the chick (Gallus domesticus) for studies of protein turnover.

1. Extensor digitorum communis (EDC) muscles from the chick synthesized and degraded proteins at linear rates, and maintained high levels of ATP, creatine phosphate and glycogen, for 9 hr of incubation. 2. The apparent viability of the EDC preparation was improved by the provision of a continuous supply of oxygen, glucose, insulin and amino acids at the levels found in chick plasma, and incubation at 33.5 degrees C. 3. Incubated muscles were in net negative protein balance; however, under optimal conditions, this represented only 0.03% of total protein/hr. Rates of protein synthesis in the EDC preparation were 65% of those determined in vivo, comparing favourably with values obtained by other workers in mammalian muscle. 4. Rates of protein synthesis responded to insulin, amino acids, and to the nutritional status of the bird, as had been observed in prior studies with mammalian muscle. By contrast to mammalian muscle protein degradation was relatively insensitive to these modifiers.