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2002/09/20, 10:26 PM
Research performed
Scientists from the Johns Hopkins University had created
"massively-muscled, Arnold Schwarzenegger-like mice" by genetically
engineering animals with a missing growth regulator called myostatin.
Myostatin is a gene (Now understand that a gene is a linear sequence of nucleotides along a
segment of DNA that provides the coded instructions for synthesis of RNA, which, when
translated into protein, leads to the
expression of hereditary character.)
that is a member of the Transforming
Growth Factor-b (TGF-b)
Superfamily.1 These genes encode
factors that are essential to proper
biological development during the
embryonic stage.2 They are
specifically expressed before birth.
Genetically engineered
myostatin-free mice and cattle
exhibit twice the lean muscle mass
as their normal stable-mates, without
extra feeding or resistance training!3
The important thing to understand is that these animals were genetically engineered to not
possess the myostatin gene because myostatin limits muscle growth.3,4
A study published in 1998, revealed that myostatin is expressed in human skeletal muscle
and levels are increased in muscle wasting diseases such as HIV.5 This research
demonstrated that myostatin levels within the human body correlate inversely with fat-free
mass. That is, the less myostatin in circulation, the more muscle you will have. This research
confirmed that myostatin is a primary regulator of muscle growth in humans.5
Recently, the same scientists at Hopkins engineered a second group of mice whose genetic
makeup shows it's possible to get the same amazing muscle growth-effect by blocking the
myostatin gene rather than deleting it entirely.6
The Hopkins scientists identified several proteins, namely follistatin, mutant activin type II
receptors, and myostatin propeptide, that can effectively block the activity of myostatin.6
Remember, if you can block myostatin, muscle growth will literally explode! Paul Delia
reported this information in May last year.7
Now, a collective brains-trust of unscrupulous sports supplement marketers have recently
cottoned on to this information and are attempting to pull more scams.8 These pumpkin heads
are trying their best to make consumers believe that they have supplements that athletes can
take that will block the activity of myostatin. I believe they also get the bulk of their product
knowledge from Miss. Cleo the tarot card reader. If not product knowledge, they certainly get
their marketing ideas from her.
The myostatin blocking-ability was not achieved by simply taking a pill or even receiving an
injection. The Hopkins scientists are the world leaders in this technology, and they have only
just recently been able to produce this ability to block myostatin using the latest,
state-of-the-art genetic engineering techniques. What we are talking about is embryonic
microinjections (gene manipulation before birth), numerous cross-linking experiments and cell
cloning techniques to produce mice with various levels of the specific binding affinity
mutations.
Myostatin is licensed to MetaMorphix, a company founded by one of the main researchers
Se-Jin Lee, M.D., Ph.D., in 1995. This company was established to commercialize on work by
Hopkins and other pharmaceutical companies in the field of growth and differentiation
factors. Myostatin is sublicensed to American Home Products and Cape Aquaculture
Technologies. The authors and the University own MetaMorphix stock and the authors also
own CAT stock. Lee is a consultant to MetaMorphix and Cape Aquaculture Technologies.
The other lead author of this research, Alexandra McPherron, Ph.D., is a consultant to Cape
Aquaculture Technologies.
This is cutting-edge, multi-million dollar genetic research and it appears to be stitched up tight
by some big companies and brilliant research minds. Do you really think some little snake-oil
selling supplement company has the capacity, contacts, or finances to obtain this type of
technology and then surpass it? Yeah, right! Not by a long shot.
The research on myostatin and the ability to block myostatin is very exciting. In 5 to 10 years,
when it is possible to isolate, stabilize then synthesize on a large scale, the myostatin
propeptide and follistatin protein blockers, it will be in the tight grip of billion dollar
pharmaceutical companies. These drugs will be only made available on prescription for
extreme wasting conditions. That is, until they find their way onto the black market, and then,
god help this sport!
Now these companies with their "make-believe" products would love you to think they have
the technology to produce such myostatin blockers. They will go to great lengths concocting
tales of top secret, undercover research. They'll spin the story well. You better believe they
will.
But by now you should know the script. First they will come out with a pill or a powder. Then
another company will come out with the "better" liquid version. Of course it will be stabilized
and guaranteed stable for 2 years. Then yet another company will come out with the
transdermal myostatin cream that you simply rub on what ever muscle you want to increase
the size of. Oh, and don't forget the special "night time" myostatin formula. And why stop
there, how about the really special "Myagra-statin" because "girls really want a bigger man."
Welcome to Fantasy Island, I mean the sports supplement industry.
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2002/09/25, 12:51 PM
Excellent article!!
I don't know how these supplement companies can get away with selling stuff like "myostatin blockers," it seems to me that it can be classified as false advertising. It makes you think about what is really in these pills or shakes they are selling. The problem is, people will still buy this crap. I've always just stayed with Protein, creatine, a multivitamin, a good diet, and patience. Saves me a lot of money.
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2002/09/25, 01:27 PM
Hear Hear!!! A very intellegent approach. They eventually get these guys, but regulation is extremely hard, and the supp companies know this. And they try to cover themselves with lines like I saw in a magazine, "if our guess is right". That way they have a way out. Beware the newest, greatest, supplement!
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