Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for treatment of muscle dysfunction (including sarcopenia) and other diseases involving skeletal muscle, including age-related muscle dysfunction. In addition, the invention relates to therapeutic compositions comprising nucleotides and/or polypeptides of the invention in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the composition facilitates the treatment of skeletal muscle disorder, including those related to thr normal aging process. Moreover, the invention relates to the treatment and/or prevention of pathological conditions associated with altered intracellular Ca2+ regulation and disrupted membrane structure that occurs when the expression levels of MG29 are reduced.