Expression of myostatin propeptide fusion protein and preliminary observation on its activity of preventing muscle atrophy

Objective: To investigate the effect of 'myostatin propeptide-albumin' fusion protein on preventing muscle atrophy. Method: Aspartate-76 to alanine-76 mutant myostatin propeptide gene was prepared and then linked to rat albumin gene segment. This fusion gene was cloned into yeast expression vector to generate recombinant fusion protein. Expressed fusion protein was purified, then supplied to tail-suspended rats. Result: After 21d of tail suspension, hind limb muscle atrophy could be observed in tail suspension rats, whereas the atrophy could be prevented in the tail suspended rats by injection of'myostatin propeptide-albumin segment'. Conclusion: Recombinant fusion protein'myostatin propeptide-albumin'can inhibit muscle disuse atrophy caused by muscle unloading. It may be a potential therapeutic application for muscle disuse atrophy.