A Simple Assay and Histochemical Localization of Transglutaminase Activity Using a Derivative of Green Fluorescent Protein as Substrate

• DOI: 10.1177/002215540104900212
• Publication Date: 2011-04-01T07:17:54Z
• Authors: Yutaka Furutani; Akira Kato; Michitaka Notoya; Magdy A. Ghoneim; Shigehisa Hirose
• Keywords: Tissue transglutaminase

SUMMARY Histidine-tagged green fluorescent protein (His 6 -Xpress-GFP), a widely used probe, was found to be good substrate for transglutaminase, an enzyme that catalyzes covalent crosslinking of proteins. GFP alone did not serve as but its derivative His -Xpress-GFP readily crosslinked through the Gln and Lys residues present in short N-terminal extension -Xpress). sensitive enough detect transglutaminase activity guinea pig liver homogenates. The could also staining on histological tissue sections, such applications revealed surprisingly wide distribution body, especially extracellular matrices various tissues, suggesting important role maintaining integrity matrix connective tissues by constituent proteins.(J Histochem Cytochem 49:247–258, 2001)