title: Molecular Cloning, Identification, and Expression Patterns of Myostatin Gene in Water Buffalo (Bubalus Bubalis).
abstract: Myostatin (MSTN), also named growth differentiation factor 8 (GDF8), is a transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family member with a key role in the negative regulation of skeletal muscle growth. However, its role in ovarian folliculogenesis remains unclear. To provide us with a basis for understanding this role, we cloned MSTN and examined its expression patterns in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). The complete ORF of the water buffalo MSTN gene is 1,128 nucleotides, which encode a 375 amino acid protein and sharing 99% identity at the deducted amino acid level with that of Bos taurus. Protein sequence analysis showed that MSTN is a weakly acerbic extracellular protein, consisting of signal peptides at 18-19 sites, a TGF-β propeptide, and a TGF-β domain. RT-PCR analyses demonstrated that water buffalo MSTN was expressed in multiple tissues but not limited to muscle. Immunohistochemistry staining confirmed the presence of MSTN in oocytes and granulosal cells. To our knowledge, this is the first study to confirm the expression of MSTN in the water buffalo ovary, suggesting an additional role of MSTN in water buffalo folliculogenesis, along with its role in skeletal muscle growth regulation. Further study of the regulatory mechanism of MSTN in water buffalo reproduction is warranted.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  MSTN, myostatin; ORF, open reading frame.
authors.affiliation: a State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources , Guangxi University , Nanning , Guangxi , China.|b Guangxi Buffalo Research Institute , Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science , Nanning , China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: a State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources , Guangxi University , Nanning , Guangxi , China.
authors.forename: Haiyang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: a State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources , Guangxi University , Nanning , Guangxi , China.
authors.forename: Guiting
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: a State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources , Guangxi University , Nanning , Guangxi , China.
authors.forename: Jiayu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: a State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources , Guangxi University , Nanning , Guangxi , China.
authors.forename: Ruimen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: a State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources , Guangxi University , Nanning , Guangxi , China.
authors.forename: Kuiqing
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: a State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources , Guangxi University , Nanning , Guangxi , China.
authors.forename: Sufang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: a State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources , Guangxi University , Nanning , Guangxi , China.
authors.forename: Deshun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D055435:Myostatin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D055435:Myostatin
keywords: Bio-informatics analysis; Myostatin; expression pattern; water buffalo