calcineurin; serine/threonine protein phosphatase 3 (formerly PP2B)

Function

• Ca+2-dependent, calmodulin-stimulated Ser/Thr phosphatase
• dephosphorylates HSPB1 & SSH1
• more restricted in its specificity than protein phosphatase 1 & protein phosphatase 2A
• releases cytosolic NFAT components for nuclear transloaction

Structure

• composed of two components (A & B)
  • the A component is the catalytic subunit
  • the B component confers Ca+2 sensitivity

Pharmacology

• calcineurin inhibitors used as immunosuppressive agents in prevention of organ transplant rejection

Laboratory

• protein phosphatase 3 in leukocytes

More general terms

• multisubunit protein
• serine/threonine phosphatase
• calmodulin binding protein

Additional terms

• calcineurin inhibitor
• nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFATC transcription complex, NFAT)