College Males\u27 Experiences With Group Exercise

Although a comparable number of men use gyms as frequently as women, data indicates that they are less likely to participate in group exercise classes. Although researchers have examined the relationship between gender and group exercise class participation, few studies have explored the linkage in the context of college campuses, specifically how some male participants are still wanting and able to use these services. The purpose of this research project was to examine why and how college men use group exercises classes. Guided by the theory of planned behavior (TPB), the study’s research objectives examined: (1) the exercise trends among college male group exercise participants and college male non-participants; (2) the perceived constraints to group exercise classes among college male participants and non-participants; and (3) the perceived motivations to use group exercise classes among male participants. To address the research objectives, the project relied on a cross-sectional design. Qualitative data were collected by interviewing 20 male students enrolled in a large southeastern university. Of this sample, half were college men who participate in group exercise, while the other half were college men who do not participate in group exercise. Data analysis entailed identifying recurring themes in the data. Friends, social stigma, lack of time, and lack of interest were recurring themes related to perceived constraints. In contrast, consistency and goals were major themes that were found for perceived motivation. The findings within this research study can help create more inclusive spaces and programs within facilities. This can be done by planning programs with males in mind using strategic marketing and more intentional group exercise formats

Association of NMT2 with the acyl-CoA carrier ACBD6 protects the N-myristoyltransferase reaction from palmitoyl-CoA

The covalent attachment of a 14-carbon aliphatic tail on a glycine residue of nascent translated peptide chains is catalyzed in human cells by two N-myristoyltransferase (NMT) enzymes using the rare myristoyl-CoA (C(14)-CoA) molecule as fatty acid donor. Although, NMT enzymes can only transfer a myristate group, they lack specificity for C(14)-CoA and can also bind the far more abundant palmitoyl-CoA (C(16)-CoA) molecule. We determined that the acyl-CoA binding protein, acyl-CoA binding domain (ACBD)6, stimulated the NMT reaction of NMT2. This stimulatory effect required interaction between ACBD6 and NMT2, and was enhanced by binding of ACBD6 to its ligand, C(18:2)-CoA. ACBD6 also interacted with the second human NMT enzyme, NMT1. The presence of ACBD6 prevented competition of the NMT reaction by C(16)-CoA. Mutants of ACBD6 that were either deficient in ligand binding to the N-terminal ACBD or unable to interact with NMT2 did not stimulate activity of NMT2, nor could they protect the enzyme from utilizing the competitor C(16)-CoA. These results indicate that ACBD6 can locally sequester C(16)-CoA and prevent its access to the enzyme binding site via interaction with NMT2. Thus, the ligand binding properties of the NMT/ACBD6 complex can explain how the NMT reaction can proceed in the presence of the very abundant competitive substrate, C(16)-CoA