Newly engineered transglutaminases

Transglutaminase (TGase) plays a significant role in the post-translational modifications of proteins and peptides through cross-linking reactions. TGase has broad applications in various fields, including foods, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and materials. As the demand for TGases continues to grow, research efforts are primarily focused on understanding their structure–function relationship and improving their enzymological characteristics, such as activities and stabilities, for better industrial applications. To achieve these goals, protein engineering strategies, including directed evolution, rational design, and semi-rational design, are employed to gain a comprehensive understanding of TGases and optimize their functions. These approaches have led to the development of robust TGases that can maximize cost efficiency in industries. This chapter provides an overview of engineered TGases from microorganisms and animal sources. It also introduces relevant protein engineering strategies and highlights the concerns and regulations associated with engineered TGases.