Understanding Myostatin

Front

What is the function of myostatin?

Back

Myostatin is a protein that fits into a receptor on a cell membrane to send a message inside the cell, influencing muscle development.

Front

How does a partial myostatin protein affect muscle development?

Back

A partial myostatin protein cannot fit correctly into its receptor, preventing the message from being sent into the cell, resulting in extra-big muscles.

Front

What happens when an animal has both full and partial myostatin proteins?

Back

The animal will have somewhat bigger muscles than typical animals because some cells receive the myostatin message and some do not.

Front

Where and when were heavily muscled cattle first discovered?

Back

Heavily muscled cattle were first discovered in Belgium in the late 1800s.

Front

What was myostatin originally called?

Back

Myostatin was originally called GDF-8.

Front

What did scientists discover about myostatin in 1997?

Back

Scientists discovered that changes to the gene related to myostatin (GDF-8) in mice led to the production of partial proteins and extra-big muscles.

Front

What is the MSTN gene?

Back

The MSTN gene is related to the myostatin protein and has two alleles that cause the production of either typical or partial myostatin proteins.

Front

In which animals has the allele for partial myostatin proteins been found or induced?

Back

The allele has been found in cattle, dogs, sheep, and one human, and induced in pigs, rabbits, fish, and goats in laboratory studies.