Calcineurin A (CnA) is the catalytic subunit of calcineurin, a calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine protein phosphatase (PP2B). Composed of a regulatory subunit (CnB) and a catalytic subunit (CnA), calcineurin plays critical roles in calcium-mediated signaling pathways. It is widely expressed in tissues, particularly in the brain, immune cells, and muscle. Upon calcium influx, calmodulin binds to CnA, displacing an autoinhibitory domain to activate phosphatase activity. Calcineurin regulates diverse cellular processes, including T-cell activation (via NFAT dephosphorylation), neuronal development, cardiac hypertrophy, and synaptic plasticity.
Antibodies targeting Calcineurin A are essential tools for studying its expression, localization, and function. They are widely used in techniques like Western blotting, immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), and immunoprecipitation (IP). These antibodies typically recognize specific isoforms (CnAα, CnAβ, or CnAγ) or conserved regions across isoforms, depending on epitope design. Validation often includes knockout controls or phosphatase activity assays to confirm specificity.
Research applications focus on calcineurin's role in immune suppression (targeted by drugs like cyclosporine A), neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's), and cardiovascular disorders. Cross-reactivity with homologous proteins or species variants should be carefully evaluated. High-quality CnA antibodies enable precise mechanistic insights into calcium signaling pathologies and therapeutic interventions.