A novel second myostatin gene is present in teleost fish

We report on the isolation and characterisation of the complete cDNA sequen ce encoding a novel bone morphogenetic protein-like protein (sbMSTN-b) in t he teleost fish Sparus aurata. The encoded protein is 68% identical to S. a urata MSTN at the amino acid level, and homologues were also found in Umbri na cirrosa and Tetraodon nigroviridis. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the MSTN-b gene may be present in most, perhaps all, teleost fish species. RT-PCR on different tissues/stages indicates that MSTN-b is expressed almos t exclusively in the central nervous system, starting from late larval stag es. Quantitative analyses indicate an increase of sbMSTN-b expression in th e brain associated with metamorphosis, at the same time as completion of ne rvous system differentiation. (C) 2001 Federation of European Biochemical S ocieties. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.