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    • Fulltext

       

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      Permanent link:
      https://www.ias.ac.in/article/fulltext/jbsc/038/02/0417-0431

    • Keywords

       

      Aging; behaviour; Caenorhabditis elegans; calcineurin; development

    • Abstract

       

      Calcineurin, a well-conserved protein phosphatase 2B (PP2B), is a Ca2+-calmodulin–dependent serine/threonine protein phosphatase that is known to be involved in a myriad of cellular processes and signal transduction pathways. The biological role of calcineurin has been extensively studied in diverse groups of organisms. Homologues of mammalian and Drosophila calcineurin subunits exist in the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans. The C. elegans counterpart of the catalytic subunit, calcineurin A, cna-1/tax-6, and the regulatory subunit, calcineurin B, cnb-1, are known to express ubiquitously in multiple tissues including neurons. The characterization of C. elegans calcineurin mutants facilitates identification of its physiological functions and signaling pathways. Genetic interactions between cna-1/tax-6 and cnb-1 mutants with a number of mutants involved in several signaling pathways have exemplified the pivotal role of calcineurin in regulating nematode development, behaviour and lifespan (aging). The present review has been aimed to provide a succinct summary of the multiple functions of calcineurin in C. elegans relating to its development, fertility, proliferation, behaviour and lifespan. Analyses of cna-1/tax-6 and cnb-1 interacting proteins and regulators of the phosphatase in this fascinating worm model have an immense scope to identify potential drug targets in various parasitic nematodes, which cause many diseases inflicting huge economic loss; and also for many human diseases, particularly neurodegenerative and myocardial diseases.

    • Author Affiliations

       

      Jin Il Lee1 Sutapa Mukherjee2 3 Kyoung–Hye Yoon1 Meenakshi Dwivedi4 Jaya Bandyopadhyay2

      1. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98109
      2. Department of Biotechnology, West Bengal University of Technology, BF-142, Sector-I, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700 064, West Bengal, India
      3. Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan -731235, West Bengal, India
      4. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India

    • Dates

       
      Published
      June 2013
      Manuscript received
      20 December 2012
      Accepted
      21 February 2013

  • Journal of Biosciences | News

      Forthcoming Special issue.


    • To trigger further research on plant mitochondria, the Journal of Biosciences is bringing out a special issue titled "Plant Mitochondria: Properties and Interactions with Other Organelles".


      Plant mitochondria are quite distinct and have unique features, such as a cyanide-insensitive alternate pathway. They also interact with chloroplasts to optimize photosynthetic carbon assimilation.


      Submissions are welcome until 30 July 2023. The contributions can be original articles, short communications, reviews, or mini-reviews on any topic related to plant mitochondria.


      Authors can submit their articles online at https://www.editorialmanager.com/jbsc/default2.aspx

      Posted on April 12, 2023
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