# EPIDERMAL TRANSGLUTAMINASE:  ROLE IN KERATINIZATION

> **NIH NIH R01** · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · 1987 · $126,138

## Abstract

Keratinization is an orderly process in which protein-containing monomers are
synthesized and assembled in viable epidermal cells, keratinocytes.  The final
product, keratin, is not secreted but is retained within the cellular envelope
in non-viable aneucleate cells at the skin surface.  Recently, covalent
cross-links were identified in wool keratin and shown to be
epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl) lysine bonds.
Transglutaminase, an enzyme which catalyzes the formation of
gamma-glutamyl-epsilon-lysine bonds, has been isolated in soluble form and
purified from guinea pig hair follicles and bovine and rat epidermis.  We
propose to analyze epidermal transglutaminase (ET) in the skin of experimental
animals (cow and rat) and man.  ET will be purified by chromatographic and
electrophoretic methods and assayed by its ability to incorporate the
fluorescent substrate, dansyl cadaverine, into casein.  Keratinocyte
transglutaminase will be strictly compared to and distinguished from plasma
transglutaminase (fibrin stabilizing factor, factor XIII) by enzymatic, physical
and immunochemical properties.
The enzyme ET will be localized in epidermis and epidermal appendages by
histochemical or immunochemical methods by light- or electron-microscopy.  ET
will be employed as a biochemical probe to identify native soluble donor and
acceptor proteins in epidermis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3154960
- **Project number:** 5R01AR017687-13
- **Recipient organization:** OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** NPSNT86JKN51
- **Principal Investigator:** KIRK D. WUEPPER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $126,138
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1977-06-01 → 1989-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3154960

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3154960, EPIDERMAL TRANSGLUTAMINASE:  ROLE IN KERATINIZATION (5R01AR017687-13). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3154960. Licensed CC0.

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