Meeting Abstract

P1.121  Sunday, Jan. 4  Expression of a Myostatin Transcript in Carcinus maenas: Response to Ecdysteroid Levels CHO, I.*; COVI, J.A; BADER, B.D; MYKLES, D.L; Colorado State University; Colorado State University; Colorado State University; Colorado State University ilgyuesque@gmail.com

Myostain (Mstn) is a member of the TGF-beta superfamily, known for its role as a negative regulator of muscle mass in mammals. Similarly for crustacenas, Mstn is hypothesized to take part in a reversible atrophy of muscle tissues during molting necessary for organismal growth. When crustaceans molt, their appendage muscles need to atrophy in order for them to pull through the small basi-ischial joints. We hypothesize that Mstn acts as a link between molt-inducing ecdysteroid and calpain proteases, which degrade muscle proteins. We previously identified a partial cDNA (175 bp) of a Mstn-like transcript from Carcinus maenas that is highly conserved with Mstn in land crab, Gecarcinus lateralis and lobster, Homarus americanus. The partial sequence encodes a 58 amino acid sequence of the mature peptide. Examination of Mstn expression is conducted by using real-time RT-PCR. Mstn expression is assessed in various tissues from intermolt animals. In addition, Mstn expression in skeletal muscles is examined to assess its response to different levels of ecdysteroid at various molting stages. Supported by NSF (IBN-0618203).