Cell type-specific activation of intracellular transglutaminase 2 by oxidative stress or ultraviolet irradiation: implications of transglutaminase 2 in age-related cataractogenesis

Transglutaminase (TGase) 2 is a ubiquitously expressed enzyme that modifies proteins by cross-linking or polyamination. An aberrant activity of TGase 2 has implicated its possible roles in a variety of diseases including age-related cataracts. However, the molecular mechanism by which TGase 2 is activated has not been elucidated. In this report, we showed that oxidative stress or UV irradiation elevates in situ TGase 2 activity. Neither the expression level nor the in vitro activity of TGase 2 appeared to correlate with the observed elevation of in situ TGase 2 activity. Screening a number of cell lines revealed that the level of TGase 2 activation depends on the cell type and also the environmental stress, suggesting that unrecognized cellular factor(s) may specifically regulate in situ TGase 2 activity. Concomitantly, we observed that human lens epithelial cells (HLE-B3) exhibited about 3-fold increase in in situ TGase 2 activity in response to the stresses. The activated TGase 2 catalyzed the formation of water-insoluble dimers or polymers of alphaB-crystallin, betaB(2)-crystallin, and vimentin in HLE-B3 cells, providing evidence that TGase 2 may play a role in cataractogenesis. Thus, our findings indicate that in situ TGase 2 activity must be evaluated instead of in vitro activity to study the regulation mechanism and function of TGase 2 in biological and pathological processes.     

Transglutaminase activity is involved in polyamine-induced programmed cell death.

Natural polyamines, i.e., putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, are ubiquitous molecules essential for cell proliferation and differentiation. In the present study, the effect of polyamines on primary cultures of bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs), rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs), and a human melanoma cell line was examined. While in the absence of fetal calf serum (FCS) polyamines had no effect on viability, in the presence of FCS spermidine and spermine, at concentrations close to physiologic levels, induced a dose-dependent cell death, whereas putrescine was ineffective. RASMCs were significantly more sensitive than other cells. FACS analysis, oligo-nucleosome ELISA, Hoechst nuclear staining, and Annexin V-FITC quantification showed that cell death was likely due to apoptosis. Cells exposed to spermidine showed a marked increase of intracellular transglutaminase (TGase) activity ( approximately 30-fold over control). Inhibitors of polyamine oxidation or inhibitors of TGase activity prevented polyamine-induced apoptosis. Moreover, tissue TGase overexpression significantly increased cell sensitivity to polyamine, suggesting that this effect is likely related to enhanced intracellular TGase activity. These data indicate that polyamines may modulate cell viability through a novel TGase-dependent process.     

AtPng1p. The first plant transglutaminase

Studies have revealed in plant chloroplasts, mitochondria, cell walls, and cytoplasm the existence of transglutaminase (TGase) activities, similar to those known in animals and prokaryotes having mainly structural roles, but no protein has been associated to this type of activity in plants. A recent computational analysis has shown in Arabidopsis the presence of a gene, AtPng1p, which encodes a putative N-glycanase. AtPng1p contains the Cys-His-Asp triad present in the TGase catalytic domain. AtPng1p is a single gene expressed ubiquitously in the plant but at low levels in all light-assayed conditions. The recombinant AtPng1p protein could be immuno-detected using animal TGase antibodies. Furthermore, western-blot analysis using antibodies raised against the recombinant AtPng1p protein have lead to its detection in microsomal fraction. The purified protein links polyamines-spermine (Spm) > spermidine (Spd) > putrescine (Put)-and biotin-cadaverine to dimethylcasein in a calcium-dependent manner. Analyses of the gamma-glutamyl-derivatives revealed that the formation of covalent linkages between proteins and polyamines occurs via the transamidation of gamma-glutamyl residues of the substrate, confirming that the AtPng1p gene product acts as a TGase. The Ca(2+)- and GTP-dependent cross-linking activity of the AtPng1p protein can be visualized by the polymerization of bovine serum albumine, obtained, like the commercial TGase, at basic pH and in the presence of dithiotreitol. To our knowledge, this is the first reported plant protein, characterized at molecular level, showing TGase activity, as all its parameters analyzed so far agree with those typically exhibited by the animal TGases.     

Hepatocyte Growth Factor Induces Transglutaminase Activity That Negatively Regulates the Growth Signal in Primary Cultured Hepatocytes

Transglutaminase (TGase) activity increased 2.5-fold at 6 h after treatment of rat hepatocytes with 117 nMhepatocyte growth factor (HGF). In the same manner, putrescine incorporation into proteins of cells occurred in HGF-treated cells but did not in those pretreated with monodansylcadaverine (MDC), a TGase inhibitor, even in the presence of HGF. These results suggest that HGF-induced TGase was active and catalyzed some cross-linkage reaction. Cycloheximide completely blocked the increase in TGase activity induced by HGF, suggesting that HGF stimulatedde novosynthesis of TGase within 6 h. Both [³⁵S]methionine incorporation and Northern blotting analyses supported this possibility. Pretreatment of cells with MDC additionally increased HGF-induced DNA synthesis and the ratio of cells in S-phase. Similarly, TGase antisense oligonucleotide inhibitedde novosynthesis of TGase, resulting in increase in the ratio of S-phase cells in the presence of HGF. Analyses of cross-linking of HGF to the receptor indicated that the antisense oligonucleotide inhibited the downregulation of HGF receptor subsequent to HGF-addition. These results provide the first evidence for inducibility ofde novosynthesis of TGase by HGF and suggest that TGase negatively regulates the growth signal of HGF through the downregulation of receptor.     

Inhibitory and promotive effects of polyamines on transglutaminase-induced protein polymerization

Transglutaminase (TGase) has been reported to be involved in the regulation of cell growth. We examined the effects of polyamines on TGase activity. The polymerization of casein was inhibited by putrescine (PUT) and spermidine (SPD). On the other hand, polymerization of N,N-dimethylcasein was increased by spermine (SPM) and SPD. These results suggested polyamines played two distinct roles as inhibitor and promoter for TGase-catalyzed protein polymerization.     

Transglutaminase-catalyzed modification of cytoskeletal proteins by polyamines during the germination of Malus domestica pollen

 We investigated polyamine linkage to different structural proteins in pollen of Malus domestica Borkh. cv Red Chief at different phases of germination. This linkage has the characteristics of covalent linkages, indeed, it could be catalyzed by transglutaminase (TGase; EC 2.3.2.13). This assumption is supported by: (1) formation of a labelled TCA pellet and selective labelling of endogenous proteins by covalent binding of radioactive polyamines and (2) cross-reactivity of two different polyclonal antibodies against mammalian TGases; western blot analysis allowed us to detect a protein of about 80 kDa in both rehydrated ungerminated and germinated pollen. TGase activity was high at 90 min after germination and was influenced by Ca²⁺ supply only in the rehydrated ungerminated pollen. Extraction by Triton X-100 suggests that pollen TGase was at least partially membrane-bound. The enzyme catalyzed the incorporation of polyamines mainly into proteins having a molecular mass of 43 kDa and 52–58 kDa in both ungerminated and germinated pollen. These bands matched immunolabelled spots identified by mouse monoclonal anti-actin and anti-α-tubulin antibodies. Supplying exogenous actin and tubulin in a cell-free extract of rehydrated ungerminated and germinated pollen enhanced the activity. Autoradiography of the SDS-PAGE of these samples clearly showed that both actin and tubulin were substrates of TGase. Thus, the pollen TGase may be involved in the rapid cytoskeletal rearrangement which takes place during rehydration of ungerminated pollen and organization and growth of pollen tubes. Received: 9 August 1996 / Revision accepted: 26 October 1996     

Identification of chlorophyll-a/b proteins as substrates of transglutaminase activity in isolated chloroplasts of Helianthus tuberosus L.

Endogenous substrates of transglutaminase (TGase; EC 2.3.2.13) have been identified in choloroplasts of Helianthus tuberosus leaves. The activity of TGase is Ca²⁺- and light-stimulated and catalyzes the incorporation of polyamines into thylakoid and stromal proteins. These proteins were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (first dimension: Deriphat-PAGE; second dimension: SDS-urea-PAGE) and Western-blotted. The thylakoid proteins were recognized by polyclonal antibodies as apoproteins of the chlorophyll-a/b antenna complex (LHCII, CP24, CP26 and CP29); a stromal protein was recognized by antibodies as the large subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase. A possible localization of the acyl donor site for CP26 is proposed. A comparative analysis of polyamine incorporation into trichloroacetic-acid-precipitable material indicated that spermidine was a preferential acyl-acceptor substrate with respect to putrescine, even though the above-reported substrates are the same. The nature of the substrates, together with the light stimulation, support the working hypothesis of a possible role of TGase in regulating the light-harvesting function.Abbreviations CP chlorophyll protein - LHC light-harvesting complex - M_r relative molecular mass - PA polyamine - PU putrescine - Rubisco ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase - SD spermidine - TCA trichloroacetic acid - TGase transglutaminase We acknowledge the financial support provided by CNR contribution No. 91.00539.CTO 4 to D. Serafini-Fracassini and MAF grant No. 4.7240.90 to R. Bassi. We thank Prof. C. Bergamini (Istituto di Biochimica, Università di Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy) for the kind gift of antibodies against human erythrocyte TGase.     

Cholesterol 3-sulfate interferes with cornified envelope assembly by diverting transglutaminase 1 activity from the formation of cross-links and esters to the hydrolysis of glutamine

The loss of transglutaminase 1 enzyme (TGase 1) activity causes lamellar ichthyosis. Recessive X-linked ichthyosis (XI) results from accumulation of excess cholesterol 3-sulfate (CSO(4)) in the epidermis but the pathomechanism how elevated epidermal CSO(4) causes ichthyosis is largely unknown. Here we provide evidence that XI is also a consequence of TGase 1 dysfunction. TGase 1 is a key component of barrier formation in keratinocytes: it participates in the cross-linking of cell envelope (CE) structural proteins, and also forms the lipid bound envelope by esterification of long chain omega-hydroxyceramides onto CE proteins. Using involucrin and an epidermal omega-hydroxyceramide analog as substrates, kinetic analyses revealed that at membrane concentrations above 4 mol %, CSO(4) caused a marked and dose-dependent inhibitory effect on isopeptide and ester bond formation. Sequencing of tryptic peptides from TGase 1-reacted involucrin showed a large increase in deamidation of substrate glutamines. We hypothesize that supraphysiological levels of CSO(4) in keratinocyte membranes distort the structure of TGase 1 and facilitate the access of water into its active site causing hydrolysis of substrate glutamine residues. Our findings provide further evidence for the pivotal role of the TGase 1 enzyme in CE formation.     

The balance between the rates of incorporation and pyrophosphorolytic removal influences the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase bypass of an abasic site with deoxy-, dideoxy-, and ribonucleotides

Abasic (AP) sites pose a potential danger to HIV-1 replication. HIV-1 RT has been shown to preferentially incorporate purines opposite an AP site, and subsequently extend from the lesion. While it is clear that AP sites are bypassed inefficiently and are major sites of RT pausing, detailed kinetic analysis of the relative contributions of both the incorporation and the pyrophosphorolytic reactions in translesion synthesis by HIV-RT is still lacking. Investigation of the molecular basis of these processes is important, in light of the fact that HIV-1 RT is the major target for anti-HIV chemotherapy, and its low fidelity is an essential determinant of the extraordinary genetic variability of HIV-1, which is important for the appearance of mutant viruses resistant to chemotherapy. Here, we analyzed the effects of the presence of an AP site on the template strand on the catalytic properties of the DNA-dependent polymerization reaction as well as on the phosphorolytic activity of HIV-1 RT, in the presence of deoxy-, dideoxy,- and ribonucleotides. We find that AP sites can substantially influence the substrate specificity of HIV-1 RT and that pyrophosphorolysis plays a significant role in determining the ability of HIV-1 RT to (mis)incorporate nucleotides.     

Transglutaminase activity changes during the hypersensitive reaction, a typical defense response of tobacco NN plants to TMV

The occurrence of glutamyl polyamines (PAs) and changes in activity and levels of transglutaminase (TGase, EC 2.3.2.13), the enzyme responsible for their synthesis, are reported during the progression of the hypersensitive reaction (HR) of resistant NN tobacco plants ( Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Samsun) to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). Mature leaves of tobacco were collected over 0–72 h after inoculation with TMV or phosphate buffer (mock). In vivo synthesis of polyamine glutamyl derivatives (glutamyl PAs), catalyzed by TGase activity, was evaluated after supplying labeled putrescine (Pu, a physiological substrate of TGase) to leaves. Results show that, starting from 24 h, mono-( γ -glutamyl)-Pu and bis-( γ -glutamyl)-Sd were recovered in TMV-inoculated samples but not in mock-inoculated ones; 2 days later, in the former, the amount of glutamyl derivatives further increased. An in vitro radiometric assay showed that, in TMV-inoculated leaves, TGase activity increased from 24 h onwards relative to mock controls. An immunoblot analysis with AtPng1p polyclonal antibody detected a 72-kDa protein whose amount increased at 72 h in TMV-inoculated leaves and in the lesion-enriched areas. A biotin-labeled cadaverine incorporation assay showed that TGase activity occurred in S1 (containing soluble proteins), S2 (proteins released by both cell walls and membranes) and S3 (membrane intrinsic proteins) fractions. In S3 fraction, where changes were the most relevant, TGase activity was enhanced in both mock-inoculated and TMV-inoculated samples, but the stimulation persisted only in the latter case. These data are discussed in the light of a possible role of TGase activity and glutamyl PAs in the defense against a viral plant pathogen.     

Enzymatic synthesis of vasoactive intestinal peptide analogs by transglutaminase.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide is an amino acceptor and donor substrate for tissue transglutaminase (TGase) in vitro. This peptide contains a single glutamine residue, Gln16, which was identified as the amino acceptor substrate. Different gamma(glutamyl16)amine derivatives of vasoactive intestinal peptide were synthesized enzymatically in vitro. The modification is very fast when compared with that of many native substrates of TGase. The analogs 1,3-diaminopropane, putrescine, cadaverine, spermidine, spermine, glycine ethyl ester and mono-dansylcadaverine of the peptide were purified by high-performance liquid chromatography on a reverse-phase column and were analyzed by electrospray mass spectrometry. When amines were absent in the assay mixture as an external amino donor, lysine residue occurring in the peptide was an effective amino donor site for TGase. Only one of the three lysine residues of vasoactive intestinal peptide, namely Lys21, was demonstrated to be involved in both inter- and intramolecular cross-link formation.     

Structure-activity relationship study of novel tissue transglutaminase inhibitors

Thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-one acylhydrazide derivatives were discovered as moderately potent inhibitors of TGase 2 (tissue transglutaminase) utilizing a fluorescence-based assay that measured TGase 2 catalyzed incorporation of the dansylated Lys derivative alpha-N-Boc-Lys-CH(2)-CH(2)-dansyl into the protein substrate N,N-dimethylated-casein. A SAR study revealed that the acylhydrazide thioether side-chain and the thiophene ring were critical to inhibitory activity.     

Response of transglutaminase activity and bound putrescine to changes in light intensity under natural or controlled conditions in Quercus ilex leaves

In order to further study a previously observed relationship between polyamine (PA) content and changes in irradiation, we examined the level of free and bound PAs, the activity of transglutaminase (TGase, EC 2.3.2.13) and chlorophyll fluorescence in holm oak ( Quercus ilex L.) leaves in response to different levels of light intensity and amount. A diurnal trend of free and bound putrescine (F-Put and B-Put, respectively) and TGase activity was observed in plants under natural conditions in the forest, with the highest value corresponding to the maximum light intensity and amount of light received by the leaves. In another set of experiments, potted Q. ilex plants in experimental fields were subjected to a range of periods of natural photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) by covering or not covering the whole trees. Under a natural photoperiod (uncovered leaves), B-Put content and TGase activity paralleled the diurnal PPFD pattern, reaching a maximum at the highest PPFD; prior to this maximum, free PAs showed a significant rise. Plants that were in darkness until midday and suddenly exposed to high light intensity showed enhanced TGase activity, resulting in the maximum accumulation of B-Put. The involvement of the accumulation of B-Put reflected in the changes of the B-Put/bound spermidine ratio during the photoprotective responses to high light stress in forest plants is discussed in relation to the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters observed.     

外源亚精胺对盐胁迫下黄瓜(Cucumis sativus L.)叶绿体活性氧清除系统和结合态多胺含量的影响

采用营养液水培,研究了外源亚精胺(Spd)对NaCl胁迫下抗盐能力不同的两个黄瓜品种幼苗生长、叶绿体中活性氧清除系统、转谷酰胺酶(TGase)活性、结合态多胺含量及植株光合速率的影响.结果表明,外源Spd能提高NaCl胁迫下叶绿体中TGase活性、叶绿体结合态腐胺(Put)、Spd、精胺(Spm)及总多胺含量;提高超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)和谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性,提高抗坏血酸(AsA)、类胡萝卜素(Car)、还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量及还原型谷胱甘肽/氧化型谷胱甘肽(GSH/ GSSG)比值,降低脱氢抗坏血酸/抗坏血酸(DAsA/AsA)比值;同时显著降低叶绿体过氧化氢(H2O2)和丙二醛(MDA)含量,提高植株净光合速率,缓解NaCl胁迫对幼苗生长的抑制.表明Spd对黄瓜盐害的缓解作用之一可能是通过提高叶绿体结合态多胺含量和叶绿体活性氧清除能力,从而缓解盐胁迫对叶绿体膜的伤害.     

Spermidine N1-acetyltransferase has a larger role than ornithine decarboxylase in 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-induced putrescine synthesis

We have reported that a single injection of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1 alpha,25(OH)2D3), the active form of vitamin D3, into vitamin D-deficient chicks produces a marked increase in the formation of duodenal putrescine by two pathways, one from ornithine and one from spermidine (Shinki, T., Takahashi, N., Kadofuku, T., Sato, T., and Suda, T. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 2185-2190). In this work, the conversion of [3H]ornithine into [3H]putrescine catalyzed by ornithine decarboxylase was compared with the conversion of [14C]spermidine into [14C]putrescine catalyzed by spermidine N1-acetyltransferase and polyamine oxidase. Using the in situ duodenal loop method in the presence or absence of alpha-difluoromethylornithine, we evaluated the relative contributions of these two pathways in the 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3-induced duodenal synthesis of putrescine. Prior administration of alpha-difluoromethylornithine inhibited neither the 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3-induced increase in duodenal spermidine N1-acetyltransferase activity nor the vitamin-induced enhancement of the duodenal putrescine content, although it completely suppressed the duodenal ornithine decarboxylase activity induced by 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3. The duodenal content of spermidine decreased time-dependently after injection of 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3. The increase of duodenal putrescine by 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 coincided quantitatively with the amount of putrescine synthesized from spermidine but not from ornithine after injection of the vitamin. These unexpected results clearly indicate that spermidine N1-acetyltransferase has a larger role than ornithine decarboxylase in the increase of duodenal putrescine synthesis induced by 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3. The polyamine metabolism reported here may be related to the characteristics of intestinal epithelial cells such as the short lifetime (90-108 h) and typical gradient of differentiation from the crypt to villus regions.     

The Arabidopsis AtPNG1 gene encodes a peptide: N-glycanase

Deglycosylation of misfolded proteins by the endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) pathway is catalyzed by peptide:N-glycanases (PNGases) that are highly conserved among mammals and yeast. The catalytic mechanism of PNGases employs a catalytic triad consisting of Cys, His and Asp residues, which is shared by other enzyme families such as cysteine proteases and protein cross-linking transglutaminases (TGases). In contrast to the yeast and mammalian systems, very little is known about ERAD in plants and the enzymes responsible for proper clearance of misfolded plant proteins. We have used a computer-based modeling approach to identify an Arabidopsis thaliana PNGase (AtPNG1). AtPNG1 is encoded by a single-copy gene and displays high structural homology with known PNGases. Importantly, heterologous expression of AtPNG1 restored N-glycanase activity in a PNGase-deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant. The AtPNG1 gene is uniformly and constitutively expressed at low levels throughout all developmental stages of the plant, and its expression does not appear to be subject to substantial regulation by external stimuli. Recently, recombinant AtPNG1 produced in Escherichia coli was reported to display TGase activity (Della Mea et al., Plant Physiol. 135, 2046-54, 2004). However, inactivation of the AtPNG1 gene did not result in decreased TGase activity in the mutant plant, and recombinant AtPNG1 produced in S. cerevisiae exhibited only residual TGase activity. We propose that the AtPNG1 gene encodes a bona fide peptide:N-glycanase that contributes to ERAD-related protein quality control in plants.