gdf 8

GDF-8 / Myostatin / MSTN is a member of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family and the TGF-beta superfamily. This group of proteins is characterized by a polybasic proteolytic processing site which is cleaved to produce a mature protein containing seven conserved cysteine residues. The members of this family are regulators of cell growth and differentiation in both embryonic and adult tissues. GDF-8 / Myostatin / MSTN is highly expressed in skeletal muscle, and myostatin loss-of-function leads to doubling of skeletal muscle mass. Experiments in mice have improved that GDF-8 / Myostatin / MSTN is a key regulator of mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and differentiation, and mice lacking Myostatin encoding gene show decreased body fat and a generalized increase in bone density and strength. The increase in bone density is observed in most anatomical regions, including the limbs, spine, and jaw, and myostatin inhibitors have been observed to significantly increase bone formation. GDF-8 / Myostatin / MSTN is also expressed in the early phases of fracture healing, and GDF-8 / Myostatin / MSTN deficiency leads to increased fracture callus size and strength. Together, these data suggest that GDF-8 / Myostatin / MSTN has direct effects on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoprogenitor cells and that GDF-8/Myostatin/MSTN antagonists and inhibitors are likely to enhance both muscle mass and bone strength.

Growth/differentiation factor 8(Mstn, GDF-8) is a member of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family and the TGF-beta superfamily. This group of proteins is characterized by a polybasic proteolytic processing site which is cleaved to produce a mature protein containing seven conserved cysteine residues. It is expressed specifically in developing and adult skeletal muscle. It exists as a homodimer, and interacts with WFIKKN2, leading to inhibit its activity. This protein can act specifically as a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth. It regulates cell growth and differentiation in both embryonic and adult tissues.

Acts specifically as a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth. MSTN Protein, Human, Recombinant (His) is expressed in E. coli expression system with N-6xHis tag. The predicted molecular weight is 16.4 kDa and the accession number is O14793.

GDF-8 Protein, Feline, Recombinant is expressed in E. coli expression system. The predicted molecular weight is 40.7 kDa and the accession number is M3WPT7.

Growth Differentiation Factor 5(GDF-5, BMP-14) is a member of the BMP family of TGFβ superfamily proteins. Human GDF-5, -6, and -7 are a defined subgroup of the BMP family. GDF-5 is synthesized as a homodimeric precursor protein consisting of a 354 amino acid (aa) Nterminal proregion and a 120 aa C-terminal mature peptide. Mature human GDF-5 shares 99% aa sequence identity with both mature mouse and rat GDF-5. GDF-5 signaling is mediated by formation of a heterodimeric complex consisting of a type 1 (BMPR-IB) and a type II (BMPR-IIor Activin RII) serine/threonine kinase receptor which results in the phosphorylation and activation of cytosolic Smad proteins (Smad1, 5, and 8). GDF-5 is involved in multiple developmental processes including limb generation, cartilage development, joint formation, bone morphogenesis, cell survival, and neuritogenesis. Inhibition of GDF-5 expression or alteration of its signaling can facilitate the development of osteoarthritis.