Redefine photoprotection: Sun protection beyond sunburn.

Excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light leads to acute and chronic UV damage and is the main risk factor for the development of skin cancer. In most countries with western lifestyle, the topical application of sunscreens on UV-exposed skin areas is by far the most frequently used preventive measure against sunburn. Further than preventing sunburns, increasing numbers of consumers are appreciating sunscreens with a medium- to high-level sun protective factor (SPF) as basis for sustainable-skin ageing or skin cancer prevention programs.

Conditional neuronal nitric oxide synthase overexpression impairs myocardial contractility.

The role of the neuronal NO synthase (nNOS or NOS1) enzyme in the control of cardiac function still remains unclear. Results from nNOS(-/-) mice or from pharmacological inhibition of nNOS are contradictory and do not pay tribute to the fact that probably spatial confinement of the nNOS enzyme is of major importance. We hypothesize that the close proximity of nNOS and certain effector molecules like L-type Ca(2+)-channels has an impact on myocardial contractility.

New approach to prevent myocardial hypertrophy: the import blocking peptide.

Calcineurin, a serine/threonine phosphatase, plays a crucial role in the development of myocardial hypertrophy. Calcineurin is a cytosolic phosphatase that dephosphorylates the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT), a transcription factor. Until now, it has been postulated that dephosphorylated NFAT is shuttled into the nucleus.

Inhibition of nuclear import of calcineurin prevents myocardial hypertrophy.

The time that transcription factors remain nuclear is a major determinant for transcriptional activity. It has recently been demonstrated that the phosphatase calcineurin is translocated to the nucleus with the transcription factor nuclear factor of activated T cells (NF-AT). This study identifies a nuclear localization sequence (NLS) and a nuclear export signal (NES) in the sequence of calcineurin.