Transglutaminase Activity Is Conserved in Stratified Epithelia and Skin Appendages of Mammals and Birds

January 2023 in “ International journal of molecular sciences ”

Attila Placido Sachslehner, Marta Surbek, Bahar Golabi, Miriam Geiselhofer, K. Jäger, Claudia Heß, Uwe Küchler, Reinhard Gruber, Leopold Eckhart

transglutaminase TGM cornification epidermis gingiva nail matrix sweat gland ducts claw matrix feather structures protein cross-linking

TLDR Transglutaminase activity is important for skin and is found in both mammals and birds.

This study reveals that transglutaminase (TGM) activity is conserved across various stratified epithelia and skin appendages in mammals and birds, playing a crucial role in the cornification process. TGM activity was detected in human tissues such as the epidermis, gingiva, nail matrix, and sweat gland ducts, as well as in the claw matrix and feather structures of chickens. The findings suggest that TGM-mediated protein cross-linking is essential for the structural integrity and mechanical stability of these tissues, highlighting its evolutionary significance in the formation of hard skin appendages like nails and feathers.

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