Transglutaminase activity along the rat small bowel and cellular location

A recent report indicates a relationship between human transglutaminase (TG) jejunal mucosa activity and celiac disease. We investigated the enzyme distribution along six consecutive small bowel segments of mucosa and tested TG activity on brush border membranes obtained from whole mucosa homogenate in Wistar rats. TG activity was significantly present in jejunal mucosa even if mostly detected in the distal part of small intestine. Our study indicates highest enzymatic activity in the subcellular fraction containing organelles and cellular membranes (66.8%) while a 7% activity was associated with the brush border fraction