title: Possible involvement of transglutaminase-catalyzed reactions in the physiopathology of neurodegenerative diseases.
abstract: Transglutaminases are ubiquitous enzymes, which catalyze post-translational modifications of proteins. Recently, transglutaminases and tranglutaminase-catalyzed post-translational modification of proteins have been shown to be involved in the molecular mechanisms responsible for several human diseases. Transglutaminase activity has been hypothesized to be involved also in the pathogenetic mechanisms responsible for human neurodegenerative diseases. Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, supranuclear palsy, Huntington's disease and other polyglutamine diseases, are characterized in part by aberrant cerebral transglutaminase activity and by increased cross-linked proteins in affected brains. In this review, we focus on the possible molecular mechanisms by which transglutaminase activity could be involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, and on the possible therapeutic effects of selective transglutaminase inhibitors for the cure of patients with diseases characterized by aberrant transglutaminase activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Second University of Naples, Via Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giuliano
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Collaro
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Vivo
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sedia
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Serretiello
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gentile
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death; D005973:Glutamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008239:Lysine / Q000378:metabolism; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D005973:Glutamine; C097188:polyglutamine; D011503:Transglutaminases; D008239:Lysine