ACE-031 1mg

What is ACE-031?

ACE-031 is a recombinant fusion protein made from the extracellular domain of human activin receptor type IIB (ActRIIB) joined to the Fc portion of human immunoglobulin G1. Its international non-proprietary name is ramatercept. It functions as a soluble decoy receptor, binding myostatin (GDF-8), activin A and other TGF-beta superfamily ligands before they can reach cell-surface ActRIIB.

ACE-031 was originally developed as an investigational biologic and evaluated in early clinical studies in the compound class, including a paediatric muscular dystrophy programme. Clinical development was halted after safety findings, and it is now used solely as a research reagent for studying ActRIIB ligand signalling.

GenoPept supplies ACE-031 to UK laboratories as a 1mg lyophilised vial, independently verified at ≥99% purity with a batch Certificate of Analysis. It is a large glycoprotein, not a short synthetic peptide, so it has no single CAS number or fixed molecular weight.

ACE-031 research applications

ACE-031 is used as a broad-spectrum ActRIIB ligand trap in preclinical and cell-based research:

• Myostatin signalling – researchers apply ACE-031 to neutralise myostatin in myoblast cultures and animal models, studying downstream SMAD2/3 signalling and muscle fibre biology.
• Activin biology – because it also binds activin A and B, GDF-11 and some BMPs, ACE-031 is used to compare pan-ligand inhibition with myostatin-specific antibodies.
• Muscle wasting models – animal studies investigate ActRIIB blockade in models of disuse, cachexia and dystrophy.
• Bone and metabolic research – ActRIIB ligands influence bone remodelling and adipose tissue, and ACE-031 has been studied in these contexts.
• Vascular safety pharmacology – its off-target binding of BMP9 and BMP10 makes it a reference tool for studying vascular effects of TGF-beta family inhibition.

Mechanism of action (preclinical)

Myostatin and activins signal by binding ActRIIB on the cell surface, which recruits type I receptors (ALK4/ALK5) and phosphorylates SMAD2/3. In skeletal muscle this pathway suppresses protein synthesis, satellite-cell activation and fibre growth. ACE-031 presents a soluble copy of the ActRIIB ligand-binding domain that sequesters these ligands in the extracellular space.

The IgG1 Fc domain dimerises the construct and extends its persistence in biological systems. In preclinical models this decoy-receptor strategy has been reported to increase muscle mass, but it is not selective for myostatin, which is relevant when interpreting results.

ACE-031 product specifications

Each vial is supplied to the specification below. Rows are limited to values that can be verified from published sources.

Available sizes

• ACE-031 1mg vial, lyophilised powder

Bulk and wholesale boxes of 10 vials of ACE-031 save 20–50% for laboratories running larger studies; see the bulk and wholesale page. Free UK delivery applies to orders of £200 or more.

Reconstitution, handling and storage (laboratory)

ACE-031 is shipped as a lyophilised powder and should be stored unopened at –20 °C for long-term laboratory storage, or at 2–8 °C for short periods, protected from light. Allow the sealed vial to reach room temperature before opening to avoid condensation on the powder.

To reconstitute, add bacteriostatic water or another sterile diluent slowly down the inside wall of the vial, then swirl gently until dissolved. Never shake, as shear stress can denature the peptide. ACE-031 is a large glycosylated protein and is sensitive to shear and surface adsorption, so use low-binding tubes and gentle pipetting. After reconstitution keep the solution at 2–8 °C and use it within the period defined in your laboratory protocol.

Full step-by-step guidance is available in our articles on how to reconstitute research peptides and how to store research peptides. Handle with gloves and standard laboratory precautions.

Quality assurance and Certificate of Analysis

Every batch of ACE-031 is tested by an independent third-party laboratory (Puralytix, ISO/IEC 17025 accredited). Purity is confirmed by HPLC at ≥99% and identity is confirmed by LC-MS, so the material in the vial matches the label.

A batch-specific Certificate of Analysis is available through the “View Certificate of Analysis” button on this page, and the complete library is published in the COA library. Our guide to what a Certificate of Analysis shows explains how to read the chromatogram and mass spectrum. Vials are batch-identified with lot number and expiry, and orders are dispatched discreetly by tracked Royal Mail Special Delivery within the UK.

Related research compounds

• GDF-8 (Myostatin) 1mg – the primary ligand that ACE-031 sequesters, for binding and neutralisation assays
• Follistatin-344 1mg – an endogenous myostatin and activin antagonist for comparative studies
• IGF-1 LR3 – an anabolic growth-factor signal often studied alongside myostatin inhibition
• PEG-MGF 2mg – IGF-1 splice-variant peptide for muscle progenitor research

ACE-031 frequently asked questions

What is ACE-031 used for in research?

ACE-031 is used as a soluble ActRIIB decoy receptor in studies of myostatin and activin signalling. Typical applications include neutralising myostatin in myoblast cultures, animal models of muscle wasting, comparisons with myostatin-specific antibodies and safety pharmacology studies of TGF-beta family inhibition. Supplied for in-vitro laboratory research only.

How is ACE-031 supplied and what is its purity?

GenoPept supplies ACE-031 as 1mg of lyophilised protein in a sealed, sterile glass vial with a black cap and batch label. Every lot is tested by an independent ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory, with ≥99% purity by HPLC and identity confirmed by LC-MS, and a batch Certificate of Analysis is available on the product page and in the COA library.

How should ACE-031 be stored?

Store unopened ACE-031 vials at –20 °C for long-term storage, or at 2–8 °C for short periods, protected from light. After reconstitution keep the solution at 2–8 °C, avoid freeze–thaw cycles and use within the period defined in your laboratory protocol. Use low-protein-binding labware, as this is a large fusion protein.

Is ACE-031 for human use?

No. ACE-031 is supplied strictly for in-vitro laboratory research. It is not a medicine, its clinical development was discontinued, and it is not for human or veterinary use, diagnosis or therapy. UK customers must accept the research use only policy before ordering.

How does ACE-031 differ from follistatin?

Both bind myostatin, but ACE-031 is an engineered ActRIIB-Fc decoy receptor while follistatin is a naturally occurring glycoprotein. ACE-031 binds the full range of ActRIIB ligands including activins and some BMPs, whereas follistatin binds activin and myostatin through a different structural mechanism. Researchers use them to probe different aspects of TGF-beta family regulation in muscle.

Research use only. This product is supplied strictly for in-vitro laboratory research. It is not for human or veterinary use, not a medicine, and not for diagnostic or therapeutic use. Read the GenoPept research use only policy before ordering.