Biology
Myostatin
Myostatin (GDF-8) is a protein that negatively regulates skeletal muscle mass, limiting muscle growth.
Detailed Explanation
Myostatin is a member of the TGF-β superfamily that signals through ActRII receptors to inhibit muscle differentiation and growth. Inhibiting myostatin leads to dramatic muscle hypertrophy. Follistatin-344 binds and neutralizes myostatin. ACE-031 acts as a decoy receptor. YK-11 induces follistatin expression to indirectly inhibit myostatin. Myostatin knockout animals show 2-4x normal muscle mass.