Washington, Feb 20 (IANS) Scientists have come up with evidence to show that calcineurin, an enzyme, is critical in controlling normal development and function of heart cells.

The loss of the protein leads to heart problems and death in genetically modified mice, says a new study.

The research was led by scientists at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Centre (CCHMC) and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMC).

It shows that calcineurin in hearts of mice is directly linked to proper cardiac muscle contraction, rhythm and maintenance of heart activity.

The near total absence of calcineurin in mice leads to heart arrhythmia (irregular heartbeats), failure and death, says the research team.

Scientists knew previously that calcineurin is important to heart function, but the extent of its role had not been defined prior to the current study.

Although the research involved mice, it offers important insights for future studies that could lead to new approaches in diagnosis and treatment of heart patients, said Marjorie Maillet, study co-author and HHMC study invetigator.

'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 Maillet.

Calcium is also important to cardiac growth and the contraction of heart muscle. Previous studies have linked abnormalities in calcium handling to cardiac disease, especially in adults, says a CCHMC release.

These findings are slated for publication in the Feb 26 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.