TG2 mutants and insulin secretion

Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is an enzyme with diverse biological functions. Mutations in the TG2 (TGM2) gene have also been implicated in young-onset type 2 diabetes. However, their effect on TG2 function is not fully understood. Salter et al. analysed the effect of naturally occurring mutations in TG2 on its transamidation, kinase, and GTP-binding functions and their association with GSIS. Their results indicate that all three reported mutations in TG2 differentially affect TG2 biological functions such as transamidation, kinase, and G-protein functions. This would imply that transamidation, kinase, and G-protein functions of TG2 are associated with each other and regulated in a coordinated manner.

Furthermore, their data indicates that various functions of TG2 are activated in a sequential manner during the different phases of GSIS. Reduced insulin secretion as a result of naturally occurring mutations in TG2 is most likely due to the impairment of more than one biological function of TG2. Salter et al. (2012) Journal of Molecular Endocrinology 48 203-216.

Read the full article at DOI: 10.1530/JME-11-0064