Human Myostatin Recombinant

Growth differentiation Factor 8 (GDF-8), also known as myostatin, is a secreted protein that is expressed specifically in developing and adult skeletal muscle. It controls myoblast proliferation and is a potent negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass. GDF-8 belongs to the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily . All TGF-β superfamily members are synthesized and secreted as a homodimeric prepropeptide that is cleaved by proprotein convertases such as furin to generate the dimeric N- terminal propeptide and the dimeric C-terminal mature active protein. The C- terminal mature protein contains the characteristic conserved cysteine residues involved in the formation of the cysteine knot domain. Mouse GDF-8 cDNA encodes a 376 amino acid residue (aa) preproprotein with a putative 24 a.a. signal peptide, a 243 a.a. propeptide and a 109 a.a. mature protein. GDF-8 is highly conserved across species. Mature human, mouse, rat, and cow GDF-8 share 100% aa sequence identity. Among TGF-β family members, GDF-8 is most closely related to GDF- 11/BMP-11. The two proteins share 65% overall aa sequence, within their mature regions, the two proteins differ only by 11 a.a. residues. Similarly to TGF-β1,2, and 3, the GDF-8 homodimeric propeptide and mature protein remained non-covalently linked after proteolytic cleavage, and is released as a biologically inactive latent complex that does bind its receptor. In serum, GDF-8 has also been found to exist in a large latent complex that also included FLGR (follistatin-related gene) and GASP-1 (growth and differentiation factor-associated serum protein-1) in addition to the propeptide. Recombinant GDF-8 propeptide is capable of associating with the active GDF-8 with high affinity to reconstitute the latent complex and is potent GDF-8 antagonist.

Reconstitute at 0.1-1.0 mg/ml in distilled water. This solution can then be diluted into other buffers. To maximize product collection from vial surface, vortex briefly and then spin down to recollect the liquid.

The lyophilized protein is stable for at least 2 years from date of receipt when stored at -20°C. Upon reconstitution, store in working aliquots at +4°C for up to one month, or at -20°C for up to six months, in the presence of a carrier protein. Avoid repeated freeze/thaw cycles.