Myostatin and mimetics thereof

Abstract

An isolated mimetic of functional myostatin comprising part of the amino acid sequence of functional myostatin, such that the mimetic is capable of inhibiting muscle growth.

1 . An assay for determining presence of myostatin in a sample, comprising: 
 (a) contacting said sample with isolated myoblasts; and    (b) determining any variation in the rate of myoblast proliferation, thereby determining the presence of myostatin in said sample.    
   
   
       2 . The assay according to  claim 1 , wherein the isolated myoblasts are C 2 C 12  transformed myoblasts or primary cultures of myoblasts.  
   
   
       3 . The assay according to  claim 1 , wherein the rate of myoblast proliferation is determined using a methylene blue assay.  
   
   
       4 . A method for screening a compound for potential agonist or antagonist activity with myostatin comprising 
 (a) contacting isolated myoblasts with myostatin in the presence of said compound; and    (b) determining any variation in the rate of myoblast proliferation, wherein an increase in myoblast proliferation indicates that the compound is an antagonist of myostatin, and a decrease in myoblast proliferation indicates that the compound is an agonist of myostatin.    
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the compound is a mature peptide of myostatin that has a C-terminal truncation.