Molecular atlas maps how exercise changes 22 tissues in mice
Salk Institute researchers created a molecular atlas showing how exercise affects 22 tissues in mice, using RNA sequencing, metabolomics, proteomics, single-nucleus RNA sequencing, and DNA methylation profiling. The study found that exercise responses differ by tissue, cell type, sex, and time of day. The atlas is intended to provide a healthy baseline for understanding tissue adaptation and developing more personalized exercise strategies.
Salk researchers compared young male and female mice that ran on wheels voluntarily for eight weeks with mice that remained sedentary. They collected 22 tissues during active and resting periods, then analyzed whole-tissue gene activity, small metabolic molecules, proteins from four leg muscles, and single-nucleus RNA plus DNA methylation in three leg muscles.
The atlas links exercise responses to tissue, cell type, sex, and daily timing. Published in Cell on Oct. 15, 2026, it is intended as a normal reference for studying tissue adaptation and developing individualized exercise guidance.
This atlas may eventually inform exercise recommendations by highlighting that responses can differ by sex, tissue, cell type, and time of day. Researchers, clinicians, and people seeking individualized fitness or rehabilitation plans could benefit from a clearer baseline for comparing normal adaptation. However, because findings come from mice, any human applications would require further validation, so near-term societal effects are likely indirect and primarily scientific.