Exploring the Role of Transglutaminase in Patients with Glioblastoma: Current Perspectives

Tissue transglutaminase (tTG) is a rather unique GTP-binding/protein crosslinking enzyme that has been shown to play important roles in a number of cellular processes that impact both normal physiology and disease states. This is especially the case in the context of aggressive brain tumors, such as glioblastoma. The diverse roles played by tTG in cancer survival and progression have led to significant interest in recent years in using tTG as a therapeutic target. In this review, we provide a brief overview of the transglutaminase family, and then discuss the primary biochemical activities exhibited by tTG with an emphasis on the role it plays in glioblastoma progression. Finally, we consider current approaches to target tTG which might eventually have clinical impact.

Automated summary

Tissue transglutaminase (tTG) is a unique enzyme that plays important roles in cellular processes and cancer progression, especially in glioblastoma. This review provides an overview of the transglutaminase family, discusses the biochemical activities of tTG, and considers current approaches to target tTG.