TG2 can either protect against or facilitate thapsigargin induced cell death in HEK 293A cells depending on its conformation and its localization.

(a) LDH release after 9 h of 15 µM thapsigargin treatment. LDH release is significantly increased in HEK 293A cells which express R580A-TG2 without an NLS tag. (N = 3). (b) Cell viability determined by the resazurin assay after 10 h of 15 µM thapsigargin treatment. Metabolic activity is significantly increased in HEK 293A cell which express W241A-TG2 with or without an NLS tag. (N = 4) (c) Caspase-3 activity after 6 h of 15 µM thapsigargin treatment. Caspase-3 activity is significantly increased in HEK 293A cells which express R580A without an NLS tag. (N = 3). Results are shown as mean+/−SE *p<0.05, **p<0.01.