Acts specifically as a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth. Homodimer; disulfide-linked (PubMed:27625211). Interacts with WFIKKN2, leading to inhibit its activity (PubMed:12595574). Interacts with FST3 (PubMed:17878677). Synthesized as large precursor molecule that undergoes proteolytic cleavage to generate an N-terminal propeptide and a disulfide linked C-terminal dimer, which is the biologically active molecule. The circulating form consists of a latent complex of the C-terminal dimer and other proteins, including its propeptide, which maintain the C-terminal dimer in a latent, inactive state. Ligand activation requires additional cleavage of the prodomain by a tolloid-like metalloproteinase. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. Belongs to the TGF-beta family. Myostatin entry