Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 20, 2025

Molecular Modulation by Lentivirus-Delivered Specific shRNAs in Endoplasmic Reticulum Stressed Neurons
10:50

Molecular Modulation by Lentivirus-Delivered Specific shRNAs in Endoplasmic Reticulum Stressed Neurons

Published on: April 24, 2021

1.1K

Calcineurin in development and disease

Lei Chen1, Min Song1, Chunyan Yao1

  • 1Department of Blood Transfusion, First Affiliated Hospital, The Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, PR China.

Genes & Diseases
|June 10, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Calcineurin (CaN), a calcium-dependent phosphatase, regulates cellular processes. This review highlights CaN's vital role in development and diseases like immune disorders, neurodegeneration, and cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • Cellular Signaling
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Calcineurin (CaN) is a calcium (Ca 2+) and calmodulin (CaM)-dependent serine/threonine phosphatase.
  • CaN activation occurs in response to elevated intracellular Ca 2+ levels.
  • Activated CaN dephosphorylates diverse substrates, including transcription factors, receptors, and ion channels.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the structural and functional characteristics of Calcineurin (CaN).
  • To elucidate the critical involvement of CaN in physiological development and disease pathogenesis.
  • To summarize CaN's role in immune disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, kidney disease, cardiomyopathy, and cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing scientific publications.
  • Analysis of structural and functional data related to Calcineurin.
  • Synthesis of information on CaN's role in various biological processes and diseases.

Main Results:

  • Calcineurin (CaN) signaling is integral to organ development.
  • CaN dysregulation is implicated in the onset and progression of numerous diseases.
  • The review consolidates evidence for CaN's multifaceted roles across different pathologies.

Conclusions:

  • Calcineurin (CaN) is a key regulator of cellular functions, essential for normal development.
  • Dysregulation of the CaN pathway contributes significantly to the pathogenesis of major diseases.
  • Targeting CaN offers potential therapeutic strategies for immune, neurological, renal, cardiac, and oncological conditions.
Keywords:
CalcineurinCancerCardiomyopathyDevelopmentImmune system diseaseKidney diseaseNeurodegeneration

More Related Videos

A Calcium Phosphate-Induced Mouse Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Model05:14

A Calcium Phosphate-Induced Mouse Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Model

Published on: November 18, 2022

4.1K
Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Imaging of Aortic Calcification and Inflammation08:43

Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Imaging of Aortic Calcification and Inflammation

Published on: May 31, 2016

19.7K

Related Concept Videos

Synthesis and Functions of Calcitonin00:51

Synthesis and Functions of Calcitonin

Calcitonin, a vital polypeptide hormone, regulates calcium levels within body fluids. It is released by the parafollicular cells, also known as C cells, situated in the follicular epithelium of the thyroid gland. Calcitonin responds to fluctuations in blood calcium levels and the influence of gastrointestinal hormones like gastrin and cholecystokinin.
The exact mechanisms by which calcitonin operates in calcium homeostasis remain elusive, but its significance is evident in several vital...
2.5K
Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways01:41

Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways

Wnt is a zygotic effect gene that is expressed during very early embryonic development. It regulates various processes in animals starting from early development through the adult stage, such as organogenesis in the embryo and maintenance of neuronal and blood stem cells. Wnt proteins can induce a wide variety of intracellular pathways depending upon the specific abilities of different Wnt ligands to form a complex with shared and cognate receptors in the presence of different co-receptors. The...
7.5K
Calmodulin-dependent Signaling01:16

Calmodulin-dependent Signaling

Calmodulin (CaM) is a calcium-binding protein in eukaryotes that controls various calcium-regulated cellular processes. It has four calcium-binding sites that bind calcium to form the calcium-calmodulin ( Ca2+-CaM) complex. GPCR stimulation increases the calcium levels in the cells that bind to CaM and induces a conformational change.
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
5.3K
Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway02:54

Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway

The gene encoding the main signaling molecules of the Wnt signaling pathways (the Wnt proteins) was discovered almost four decades ago by Nüsslein-Volhard and Wieschaus. They identified and originally named the gene "wingless" (wg) after a phenotype discovered during their landmark genetic screen in Drosophila for body pattern defects. At around the same time, another researcher named Harold Varmus found that a murine tumor virus activates the mammalian wg homolog, Int-1, which...
9.0K
Notch Signaling Pathway03:14

Notch Signaling Pathway

The Notch signaling pathway is a major intracellular signaling pathway that is highly conserved over a broad spectrum of metazoan species. It stands unique from other intracellular signaling mechanisms in animals because notch protein itself acts as the receptor as well as the primary signaling molecule.
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not...
4.5K
Caspases01:24

Caspases

Caspase, a family of cysteine proteases, serve as effectors in apoptosis. The ced3 gene in C.elegans was first identified to be involved in apoptosis. This gene encodes the ced-3 caspase that is similar to the interleukin-1-beta converting enzyme or ICE in mammals. In addition to apoptosis, caspases also function in the inflammatory response. Inflammatory caspases are essential in activating pro-inflammatory cytokines that recruit immune cells and block the replication of pathogens inside...
12.7K