Regulation of a Novel Guanine Nucleotide Binding Protein Tissue Transglutaminase ($G{\alpha}_n$).

Tissue transglutaminase (TGII, $G{\alpha}h$) belongs to a family of enzymes which catalyze post-translational modification of proteins by forming isopeptides via $Ca^{2+}$-dependent reaction. Although TGII-mediated formation of isopeptides has been implicated to play a role in a variety of cellular processes, the physiological function of TGII remains unclear. In addition to this Tease activity, TGII is a guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) which binds and hydrolyzes GTP It is now well recognized that the GTPase action of TGII regulates a receptor-mediated transmembrane signaling, functioning as a signal transducer of the receptor. This TGII function signifies that TGII is a new class of GTP-binding regulatory protein (G-protein) that differs from "Classical" heterotrimeric G-proteins. Regulation of enzyme is an important biological process for maintaining cell integrity. This review summarizes the recent development in regulation of TGII that may help for the better understanding of this unique enzyme. Since activation and inactivation of GTPase of TGII are similar to the heterotrimeric G-proteins, the regulation of heterotrimeric G-protein in the transmembrane signaling is also discussed.