ACE031

This is a protein that’s being investigated to determine if it can be used for therapeutic purposes for building muscle and enhancing the strength of test subjects. It does this by allowing molecules to bind to cell surface receptors – this is also where it signals through. These cell surface receptors are known as Activin Receptr Type IIB, also known as ActRIIB. ACE-031 is a recombinant fusion protein that is produced when a portion of the ActRIIB receptor and a part of the standard antibody are joined together. This then creates a decoy version of ActRIIB that circulates and eliminates proteins like GDF-8 (also known as myostatin) and other molecules that limit the muscle’s strength or growth.

Briefly, ACE-031 acts on myostatin. Myostatin, which is also known as growth differentiation factor 8 (GDF8) is expressed by skeletal muscle and functions as to inhibit muscle growth. In addition, a loss of myostatin function is known to increase muscle mass in various animals along with humans. Moreover, GDF8 has a central role in maintaining skeletal muscle which also negatively regulates muscle mass.

Within the context of muscular dystrophy, sarcopenia and cachexia tweaking or changing the myostatin signalling has been known to be a target for increasing muscle mass. Having good metabolic health is determined by a strong health of skeletal muscle, fat and bone mass. As one ages, a decline in skeletal muscle mass and strength often leads to other abnormalities such as osteoporosis and impaired function.