Human Transglutaminases: Updated Insights into Activation Mechanisms, Allosteric Regulation and Disease

Abstract

Human transglutaminases (hTGs) are Ca2+-dependent enzymes that catalyze protein crosslinking, deamidation and other post-translational modifications, thus acting as key stabilizers of tissue architecture and modulators of protein function across diverse physiological contexts. This family comprises eight catalytically active members, TG1-7, the blood coagulation factor FXIII, and the inactive structural protein Band 4.2 of the erythrocyte membrane. Recent structural and biochemical advances have refined our understanding of the molecular principles governing transglutaminase function. Thus, current evidence reveals how domain organization and catalytic architecture integrate calcium binding, nucleotide-dependent regulation in TG2 and proteolytic activation in selected isoforms to control enzymatic activity. In this review, we provide an updated and comprehensive overview of the active hTGs, combining structural, biochemical and functional data to explain how closely related enzymes achieve isoform-specific regulation and distinct biological roles. We further examine how disruption of these mechanisms contributes to human pathology, highlighting representative examples in autoimmunity, inherited disorders and complex diseases. By integrating recent biochemical and structural findings with disease-associated evidence, we aim to offer a coherent framework for understanding how TG regulation underlies their diverse biological functions and clinical relevance.