Myostatin, also known as growth and differentiation factor 8 (GDF-8), is one of the major regulators of skeletal muscle development. The phenotypes of myostatin-mutant cattle and mice have clearly established myostatin as a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth. It has been found that the growth rate of myoblasts cultured in serum from double-muscled cattle fetuses was higher than myoblasts in normal-muscled cattle fetuses serum. Deletion and inhibition of myostatin in animals lead mainly to increased muscle mass and reduced fat mass. It is important to find an efficient way to regulate myostatin activity to improve animal growth. Myostatin 5’-regulatory region was used to construct the reporter plasmid. L8 rat myoblasts were transfected with reporter plasmids. After selection, transfected L8 cells were used to screen the CMH (Chinese medicine herbs) with myostatin regulators. Twenty seven CMHs were examined by using this molecular biological screening assay. Four CMHs were identified containing the myostatin regulators. It is concluded this molecular screening system is useful to identify CMH containing myostatin regulator.
