Answer :
To determine which pathway was more enriched in genes from the late exercise in mice, we need to consider each of the listed pathways and how they relate to exercise and physiology in mice.
Insulin Signaling Pathway: This pathway is involved in regulating glucose uptake in the body. Exercise is known to enhance insulin sensitivity, but it is generally associated with both early and late stages of exercise adaptation.
FoxO Signaling Pathway: The FoxO transcription factors are involved in regulating various cellular processes, including metabolism, cell cycle, and oxidative stress. These factors often play more significant roles in response to long-term endurance exercise.
Mitochondrial Biogenesis Pathway: Mitochondrial biogenesis is the process by which cells increase mitochondrial numbers. It is a critical adaptation to endurance exercise as it enhances the muscle's oxidative capacity. This pathway tends to be more prominent in responses to prolonged or late phases of exercise.
Glucose Metabolism Pathway: While glucose metabolism is crucial during exercise as muscles require glucose for energy, this pathway is dynamically regulated before, during, and after exercise, making it difficult to isolate its enrichment specifically to late exercise.
Circadian Rhythm Regulation Pathway: This pathway involves the biological processes that follow a roughly 24-hour cycle. While exercise can influence circadian rhythms, its effect is not necessarily specific to late exercise phase.
Based on these insights, the pathway most likely enriched in genes from late exercise in mice is the Mitochondrial Biogenesis Pathway. This is because this pathway is crucial for the adaptations that occur with increased endurance following repeated or prolonged exercise, leading to improved aerobic capacity and energy production in cells over time.
Thus, the chosen multiple-choice option is:
- Mitochondrial biogenesis pathway.
