Abstract
During our search for novel transformation-sensitive proteins whose synthesis is abolished in tumour cells we found a cDNA clone coding for tissue transglutaminase. This enzyme was identified, at the protein as well as the mRNA level, in normal human fibroblasts, but was completely missing in their matched SV40 transformed counterparts. Since tissue transglutaminase has been implicated in cell cycle regulation and apoptosis, we investigated the possibility of whether this enzyme might represent a negative marker for tumour cells. We found that its synthesis varied largely among 10 cell lines derived from spontaneous mesenchymal tumours. While cells from a rhabdomyosarcoma and a chondrosarcoma did not produce it at all, an extremely high expression was observed in cells from an osteosarcoma and a liposarcoma. Thus, tissue transglutaminase is not a tumour-related marker.
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This study was supported by grants from the ETH Zurich (0-20-854-94) and from the Swiss National Science Foundation (31-40337.94).
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Schenker, T., Trueb, B. Tissue transglutaminase in mesenchymal tumour cells. Apoptosis 1, 126–130 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01321018
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01321018