EPFL Protein Design Week x Adaptyv: Myostatin (GDF-8) Binder Design
Design novel protein binders targeting Myostatin (GDF-8) while avoiding off-target effects. Myostatin inhibitors improve muscle mass retention when combined with GLP-1 therapy. Co-organized with EPFL Protein Design Week.
Overview
- Stage 1Computational Design
Submit your computational protein designs targeting Myostatin (GDF-8). Top 100 designs will be selected for experimental validation via SPR.
Submissions OpenApr 1, 2026/
Submissions CloseApr 21, 2026 - Stage 2Experimental Validation
Top 100 designs are synthesized and tested at Adaptyv's wet lab for binding affinity to Myostatin via SPR.
Validation startsApr 22, 2026/
Results releasedMay 21, 2026
- Stage 1Computational Design
Submit your computational protein designs targeting Myostatin (GDF-8). Top 100 designs will be selected for experimental validation via SPR.
Submissions OpenApr 1, 2026/
Submissions CloseApr 21, 2026 - Stage 2Experimental Validation
Top 100 designs are synthesized and tested at Adaptyv's wet lab for binding affinity to Myostatin via SPR.
Validation startsApr 22, 2026/
Results releasedMay 21, 2026
About the Target
Myostatin (GDF-8)
PDB: 3HH2
Sequence
Myostatin (GDF-8) is a TGF-beta superfamily member that negatively regulates skeletal muscle growth. Loss-of-function mutations produce extreme muscularity in cattle, dogs, and humans. The mature form is 100% conserved across humans, mice, and rats.
In this challenge, organized during EPFL Protein Design Week, the goal is to design protein binders against Myostatin while avoiding off-target effects. Myostatin inhibitors have gained renewed clinical interest in combination with GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide, where they preserve lean muscle mass during fat reduction. GDF-11 shares ~90% sequence identity with GDF-8 in the mature form, making specificity a key design consideration.
Design strategies include blocking the ActRIIB interface (PDB 1S4Y), mimicking follistatin (PDB 3HH2), disrupting the homodimer (PDB 5JI1), or targeting pro-myostatin to prevent activation (PDB 5NTU). Maximum sequence length is 250 amino acids.
Stages
Selection
Top 100 designs are synthesized and tested at Adaptyv's wet lab for binding affinity to Myostatin via SPR.