Transglutaminase cross-links in intranuclear inclusions in Huntington disease

J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2003 Jan;62(1):14-24. doi: 10.1093/jnen/62.1.14.

Abstract

Cortical and striatal perinuclear cytoplasmic aggregates and intranuclear inclusions of mutant huntingtin are neuropathological hallmarks of Huntington disease (HD). Although the mechanisms involved in the formation of these aggregates are unclear, a recent hypothesis implicates cross-linking of mutant huntingtin protein into aggregates by transglutaminase. This study explores the hypothesis that transglutaminase catalyzes cross-linking of huntingtin into intranuclear inclusions. Using immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy we demonstrate 99% colocalization of transglutaminase-catalyzed epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl) lysine covalent cross-links with nuclear aggregates of huntingtin protein in the frontal cortex of postmortem HD brain tissue. Furthermore, the transglutaminase 2 isoform colocalizes with both huntingtin protein and epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl) lysine covalent cross-links in HD intranuclear inclusions. Transient transfection of N-terminally truncated huntingtin with an expanded glutamine domain (htt-N63-148Q-myc) with and without and transglutaminase 2 into HEK 293T cells resulted in an increase in cross-linked huntingtin in the insoluble formic acid-treated pellet in comparison to transfection of N-terminally truncated huntingtin with normal length glutamine domain (htt-N63-18Q-myc). Transfection with both htt-N63-148Q-myc and transglutaminase 2 resulted in high molecular weight huntingtin in the insoluble fraction. These data support the hypothesis that transglutaminase catalyzed cross-linking of mutant huntingtin is involved in the formation and/or stabilization of huntingtin protein aggregates in HD. Based on these and other studies, modulation of transglutaminase activity could be explored as a treatment for HD.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Nucleus / enzymology*
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cell Nucleus / pathology
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / analysis
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / metabolism*
  • Dipeptides / chemistry
  • Dipeptides / metabolism*
  • Female
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / analysis
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Huntingtin Protein
  • Huntington Disease / enzymology*
  • Huntington Disease / pathology
  • Inclusion Bodies / chemistry*
  • Inclusion Bodies / enzymology
  • Inclusion Bodies / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / chemistry
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Nuclear Proteins / chemistry
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2
  • Transglutaminases / analysis
  • Transglutaminases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Dipeptides
  • HTT protein, human
  • Huntingtin Protein
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)-lysine
  • Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2
  • Transglutaminases
  • GTP-Binding Proteins