BioCyc.org database, was codon optimized by DNA2.0 for expression in E. coli. Codon optimization replaced codons rare for E. coli with more frequently used codons. The sequences of the original and codon-optimized versions of the genes are presented in Expression Plasmid Construction S. cerevisiae Phosphomevalonate Kinase Kinetics into 20 mM Tris, 50 mM NaCl, pH = 7.0 was accomplished on an AKTA using a GE Healthcare HiPrep 26/10 Desalting Column. Protein was then concentrated using VivaSpin 20 3,000MWCO filters. Protein concentration was determined using a Nanodrop. The protein was then diluted so that glycerol was 50% v/v and stored at 220uC. Activity Assay All chemicals and supporting enzymes were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich. Reaction progress was monitored spectrophotometrically at 339 nm for NADH consumption on a 96-well plate in a Spectramax M2. 100-mL enzymatic assay mixtures contained 200 mM Tris, 100 mM KCl, 10 mM MgCl2, 0.81 mM NADH, 1.5 mM phosphoenolpyruvate, 0.682U pyruvate kinase, 0.990 U lactate dehydrogenase, 0.1 mg PMK, 0.18.0 mM ATP, and 0.210.0 mM PubMed ID:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19650037 mevalonate-5-phosphate. Stock concentrations of NADH and pH neutralized ATP were confirmed through their extinction coefficients. All conditions were repeated twelve times for statistical analysis, from which KM and reaction velocities were calculated. When studying pH effect and divalent cation dependence, ATP and mevalonate-5-phosphate were held constant and data were normalized to the maximum observed reaction velocities. To ensure PMK was the rate-limiting enzyme, when necessary the following standard controls and results were verified: DHMEQ doubling the PMK added doubled the observed rate, doubling the supporting enzymes added did not affect the observed rate, and doubling the phosphoenolpyruvate concentration did not affect the observed rate. In human cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure, activation of the calcium-dependent phosphatase calcineurin A has been frequently observed. In mice, increased intracellular calcium is known to activate CnA, which binds and dephosphorylates members of the nuclear factor of activated T cells transcription factor family. Subsequently, 
NFAT translocates from the cytoplasm to the nucleus where it potentiates the transcription of multiple hypertrophic marker genes. Transgenic mice overexpressing a constitutively active form of CnA specifically in cardiomyocytes developed cardiac hypertrophy as early as 18 days postnatally, which to varying extent progressed to failure and sudden death. Electrical impulse conduction in the heart is mainly determined by three key parameters: electrical coupling between cardiomyocytes, excitability of individual cardiomyocytes and connective tissue architecture. These parameters of conduction are mainly mediated by connexin43 , by the sodium channel NaV1.5, and by the amount of collagen fibers, respectively. In arrhythmogenic remodeled hearts, abnormalities in any of these parameters of conduction have been frequently observed. Cx43 is usually downregulated, less phosphorylated and/or redistributed from the intercalated disks to the lateral sides of cardiomyocytes. Downregulation of NaV1.5 at the protein or RNA level, reduction of peak and increased late sodium current have all been frequently reported, but in contrast also no change in Scn5a mRNA, the gene encoding NaV1.5, has been observed. Finally, collagen fiber deposition is usually increased . The precise molecular basis for these changes and the or
