GDF-8 1mg

About This Compound

GDF-8, more commonly referenced as myostatin, is a secreted member of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily expressed specifically in developing and adult skeletal muscle tissue. It circulates in a latent, inactive complex with its own propeptide and other binding proteins until cleaved by members of the BMP-1/tolloid family of metalloproteinases, which releases the active dimer. The way a thermostat holds a heating system within a set range, GDF-8 is studied as a homeostatic ceiling on skeletal muscle mass in animal models, with its identity as a negative regulator established through targeted gene disruption.

Research Context

McPherron, Lawler, and Lee (1997, Nature) first identified GDF-8 and reported that mice with a disrupted GDF-8 gene were significantly larger than wild-type littermates, with individual muscles weighing two to three times more due to a combination of muscle-fiber hyperplasia and hypertrophy. Wolfman et al. (2003, PNAS) demonstrated that BMP-1/tolloid-family metalloproteinases cleave the latent myostatin propeptide complex to activate the mature growth factor, and that a cleavage-resistant propeptide mutant was associated with increased muscle mass following delivery to adult mice. McPherron, Huynh, and Lee (2009, BMC Developmental Biology) examined functional redundancy between myostatin and the related family member GDF11 in mice, finding combined loss of both genes produced skeletal-patterning defects beyond those seen with GDF11 loss alone.

Research Use Disclaimer

For Research Use Only. Not for human consumption.