Transglutaminase activity in equine strongyles and its potential role in growth and development

Abstract

Summary :Transglutaminases (E.C. 2.3.3.13) are a family of Ca 2+ -dependent enzymes that stabilize protein structure by catalyzing the formation of isopeptide bonds. A novel form of transglutaminase has been identified and characterized that seem to play an important role in growth, development, and molting in adult and larval stages of filarial nematodes. The aim of this study was to identify the ubiquitous nature of this enzyme in other nematodes and to measure its significance to larval growth, molting, and development. For this purpose, equine Strongylus spp. were used. Activity of this enzyme was identified in extracts of larvae and adults of Strongylus vulgaris, S. edentatus, Parascaris equorum and Cylicocyclus insigne. The significance of transglutaminase in the early growth and development of Strongylus vulgaris, S. edentatus and S. equinus was tested by adding specific inhibitors, monodansylcadaverine (MDC) or cystamine (CS), to in vitro cultures of third (L3) and fourth stage larvae (L4). The viability, molting and growth of these nematode species were affected by both inhibitors. Cystamine promoted abnormal development of Strongylus edentatus L3, resulting in an aberrant expansion of the anterior end. Addition of these inhibitors to cultures of L4 also reduced growth of the three species. The results indicated that transglutaminase is present in a wide array of nematode parasites and may be important in growth and development of their larval stages.KEY WORDS : equine, strongyles, L3, L4, transglutaminase, growth, molting, inhibitors, monodansylcadaverine (MDC), cystamine (CS). Résumé : ACTIVITÉ ET RÔLE POTENTIEL DE LA TRANSGLUTAMINASE DANS LA CROISSANCE ET LE DÉVELOPPEMENT DES STRONGYLES ÉQUINS

Transglutaminases of Lower Organisms

“…Inhibition of transamidation activity affected the worm viability in several nematodes [23,24] and microfilarial production of Brugia malayi in vitro [23]. Morphological and biochemical evidence strongly support the direct involvement of TG-catalyzed cross-linking reactions in molting process of the third-stage infective larvae of filarial nematodes [25,26].…”

Purification and Properties of Transglutaminase From Streptoverticillium Mobaraense

“…TGases have been reported to exist in various animal and plant tissues (Ha and Iuchi 1997;Nozawa et al 1997;Kumazawa et al 1997;Esposito ef al. 1996;Ha and Iuchi 1998;Leblanc et al 1999;Rao et al 1999;Kwak et al 1998;Ohashi et al 1995;Yasueda et al 1994;Kang and Cho 1996). The scarce source and the complicated separation and purification process for obtaining tissue TGases have resulted in an extremely high price of the enzyme, about USD 80 per unit.…”