NTU Undergraduates' research April 2014 - Biosciences | Page 114

MICROTUBULES AS A SUBSTRATE OF TRANSGLUTAMINASE
SHOWN BY INCORPORATION OF BIOTIN LABELLED CADAVERINE
George Carpenter
Microtubules from guinea pig brain cytosol were shown to be a substrate for
transglutaminase type-2.Incorporation of biotin-labelled cadaverine into
microtitre plate bound N′,N′-dimethylcasein compared to incorporation into
plate bound microtubules in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Incorporation was
shown over a 1:2 dilution series coupled with western blot to characterise
transglutaminase and tubulin present in microtubule substrate.Possible
implications for the role of transglutaminase in axonal stability and
neurodegenerative conditions.