ELASTOLYTIC EFFECT OF PEPSIN

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Pepsin exhibits an elastolytic effect on elastic fibers of human skin and aorta in tissue sections fixed in alcohol or formalin which precedes its well recognized collagenolytic action in such preparations. Elastin obtained from ligamentum nuchae is similarly solubilized by pepsin in vitro. Its action has been estimated to be approximately one-eighth that of several elastase preparations tested. The susceptibility of elastic fibers and elastin to peptic digestion suggests that they possess the aromatic acid residues tyrosine and phenylalanine in combination with glutamic acid. Carboxyl groups do not appear essential for this peptic activity since prolonged methylation failed to inhibit the elastolytic effect of pepsin on elastic fibers in tissue sections.