Myostatin, also known as GDF-8, a conserved member of the TGF- superfamily, is an essential regulator of skeletal muscle mass and heart muscle development and function. Myostatin is a secreted protein that negatively regula skeletal muscle growth by determining muscle fiber number and size. Myostatin binds one of the two activin type II receptors (ACTRIIA, ACTRIIB) to activate SMAD signaling. Myostatin also activates MAPK signalizācija caur TAK1-MKK6 and Ras ceļi. Inhibīcija of myostatin palielinās muskuļi masa in a skaits no cilvēks slimība dzīvnieks modeļi, tāds as muskulis distrofija.
GDF-8 akti as a negatīvs regulators of skeleta muskuļu augšana un diferenciācija. In papildinājums to the izteiksme in the muskulārā-aparāta sistēma, GDF-8 is also expressed in dažādi audi, ieskaitot the reproduktīvā sistēma.
