Polynucleotides encoding promyostatin polypeptides

Abstract

The present invention provides isolated polynucleotides encoding promyostatin polypeptides or a peptide portion thereof, polynucleotides complementary thereto, and oligonucleotides that can specifically hybridize to such polynucleotides. The present invention also provides an isolated polynucleotide encoding a mature myostatin peptide.

1 . A transgenic non-human animal comprising a transgene encoding a truncated or mutated growth differentiation factor-8 (GDF-8) gene, wherein the transgene undergoes homologous recombination with an endogenous GDF-8 gene within the genome, thereby resulting in truncation of the endogenous GDF-8 gene, wherein the truncated endogenous GDF-8 gene lacks GDF-8 activity, and wherein the transgenic animal has increased muscle mass as compared to a wildtype animal. 
     
     
         2 . The transgenic animal of  claim 1 , where the animal is a species of avian, bovine, porcine, ovine, or piscine. 
     
     
         3 . The transgenic animal of  claim 1 , wherein the animal is homozygous or heterozygous for GDF-8 polynucleotide. 
     
     
         4 . A chicken or turkey egg produced by the transgenic avian species of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         5 . Beef obtained from the transgenic bovine of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         6 . Milk obtained from the transgenic bovine or transgenic ovine of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         7 . Pork obtained from the transgenic porcine of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         8 . Lamb obtained from the transgenic ovine of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         9 . Chicken or turkey meat produced by the transgenic avian species of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         10 . A method of producing animal food products having increased muscle mass comprising:
 a) introducing a transgene by homologous targeting into a pronuclear embryo or embryonic stem cells of the animal comprising a polynucleotide encoding a growth differentiation factor-8 (GDF-8) polypeptide, wherein the transgene comprises an exogenous polynucleotide encoding a truncated or mutated GDF-8 polypeptide;   b) implanting the embryo or embryonic stem cells into the oviduct of a pseudopregnant female of the same species, thereby allowing the embryo or embryonic stem cells to mature to full term progeny;   c) cross-breeding transgene-positive progeny expressing the truncated or mutated GDF-8 polypeptide with each other to obtain further transgene-positive progeny, whereby the progeny have increased muscle mass and wherein the food products and the progeny include somatic and germ cells with the transgene; and   d) processing the transgene-positive progeny to obtain food products.