elastin

e·las·tin

E0066100 (ĭ-lăs′tĭn)n. A protein similar to collagen that is the principal structural component of elastic fibers.

[elast(ic) + -in.]

elastin

(ɪˈlæstɪn) n (Biochemistry) biochem a fibrous scleroprotein constituting the major part of elastic tissue, such as the walls of arteries[C19: from elastic + -in]

e•las•tin

(ɪˈlæs tɪn)

n. a protein constituting the basic substance of elastic tissue. [1870–75; elast (ic) + -in¹]

Thesaurus

Noun

elastin - a fibrous scleroprotein found in elastic tissues such as the walls of arterieselastic tissue - connective tissue consisting chiefly of elastic fibers found in the dermis of the skin and in the walls of veins and arteries and in some tendons and ligamentsalbuminoid, scleroprotein - a simple protein found in horny and cartilaginous tissues and in the lens of the eye

Elastin

elastin

[i′las·tən] (biochemistry) An elastic protein composing the principal component of elastic fibers.

Elastin

the scleroprotein that is the chief constituent of elastic fibers of connective tissue. Elastin is especially abundant in the cervical ligaments and the aortic walls (about 40 percent of the dry mass). The amount of elastin in lung tissue increases with age from 0.05 to 15 percent of the dry mass. Elastin is insoluble (even when heated) in water, dilute saline solutions, acids, and alkalies. It contain a large number of amino acid radicals with nonpolar side chains, which appear to be responsible for the high elasticity of its fibers. Like collagen, elastin is rich in glycine and proline.

Elastin can be broken down only with difficulty by proteolytic enzymes. It is digested in the digestive tract mainly as a result of the action of the enzyme elastase. Elastin is found in all vertebrates except cyclostomes; it is absent in invertebrates.

REFERENCES

Haurowitz, F. Khimiia i funktsii belkov, 2nd ed. Moscow, 1965. (Translated from English.)
Elastin and Elastic Tissue. New York–London, 1977.

elastin

[e-las´tin] a yellow scleroprotein, the essential constituent of elastic connective tissue; it is brittle when dry, but flexible and elastic when moist.

e·las·tin

(ē-las'tin), [MIM*130160] A yellow elastic fibrous mucoprotein that is the major connective tissue protein of elastic structures (for example, large blood vessels, tendons, ligaments); elastins precursor is proelastin. Synonym(s): elasticin

elastin

(ĭ-lăs′tĭn)n. A protein similar to collagen that is the principal structural component of elastic fibers.

elastin

A fibrous protein which is similar to collagen (in that one-third of the amino acids are glycine) with abundant proline, valine, and arginine, and which is formed by cross-linking small globular subunits to lysine residues. Elastin’s elasticity is ideally suited for its prominent role in arterial walls, vocal cords, alveolar septa, and ligaments, and has an amorphous wavy appearance by light microscopy. Defects in the cross-linking in elastin’s unique beta spiral, as well as increases or decreases in elastin, are implicated in coronary heart disease, emphysema, type-V Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Menke’s kinky hair disease, pseudoxanthoma elasticum, and X-linked cutis laxa.

e·las·tin

(ĕ-las'tin) A yellow elastic fibrous mucoprotein that is the major connective tissue protein of elastic structures (large blood vessels, tendons, and ligaments).
Synonym(s): elasticin.

elastin

the major protein found in ELASTIC FIBRES, responsible for the extensible and resilient nature of tissues, such as the skin, lung and larger blood vessels.

elastin

e·las·tin

elastin

e•las•tin

Elastin

elastin

Elastin

REFERENCES

elastin

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Words related to elastin

noun a fibrous scleroprotein found in elastic tissues such as the walls of arteries

Related Words