Interaction of a Tropoelastin Model with Connective Tissue Components†

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Abstract
It has been suggested that tropoelastin interacts with macromolecular components of connective tissue during the formation of elastic fibers. α-Elastin, used traditionally as a model of tropoelastin and mature elastin, is not suitable for the monitoring of this interaction in vitro. Therefore a new model of tropoelastin, the methyl ester of α-elastin, was synthesized and the interaction of this modified elastin with hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, proteoglycan subunits, solubilized structural glycoproteins and collagen was studied by turbidimetric measurements. Results indicate that α-elastin methyl ester is a better model of tropoelastin than α-elastin especially in those experiments where ionic interactions are believed to occur. It was also found that α-elastin methyl ester formed aggregates with hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, proteoglycan subunits and solubilized structural glycoproteins at room temperature and under conditions close to physiological ones. α-Elastin does not interact with these compounds under similar conditions. The character of the bonds involved in the interaction and the possible biological significance of the experiments are discussed.