title: Transglutaminases.
abstract: This paper is intended as a background to the topic of transglutaminases, while focusing on current ideas regarding the biological roles of these enzymes. Specifically, the following topics are discussed: geometry of forming gamma-glutamyl-epsilon-lysine cross-linked structures; energetic considerations; the gamma-glutamyl-epsilon-lysine cross-link; amine incorporation assays; artefactual incorporation of amines in cells and tissue homogenates; synthetic substrate systems; regulation of transglutaminase activities; strategies for probing transglutaminase-mediated events in biological systems; the blood clotting paradigm; transglutaminase and cell aging: the Ca2+-enriched human erythrocyte; transglutaminase and cell activation: the thrombin-stimulated human platelet and the fertilized sea urchin egg.
mesh_terms: D000217:Acyltransferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D000588:Amines / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002470:Cell Survival; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004905:Erythrocyte Aging; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D005971:Glutamates; D007700:Kinetics; D008239:Lysine; D010063:Ovum / Q000502:physiology; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013816:Thermodynamics; D011503:Transglutaminases
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D005971:Glutamates; D000217:Acyltransferases; D011503:Transglutaminases; D008239:Lysine; D002118:Calcium