Scientists have managed to come up with convincing evidence to show that calcineurin, an enzyme, is highly important and critical when it comes to controlling normal development and functionality of heart cells.

The loss of protein results in cardiovascular troubles and death in genetically modified mice, a new study has been able to reveal.

The research was led by a team of scientists at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Centre (CCHMC) and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMC), and showed that calcineurin in hearts of mice is directly connected to proper contraction of cardiac muscles, rhythm and maintenance of proper heart activity.

"We found that when you eliminate calcineurin, a pool of genes that regulates calcium in the heart went awry. This leads to defects in the growth and proliferation of heart cells, heart disease, arrhythmia, loss of contractility and heart failure and disease", said lead researcher Marjorie Maillet.

Details of the study are all set to be published in the Feb. 26 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.