Dissection of human tropoelastin: supramolecular organization of polypeptide sequences coded by particular exons

Matrix Biol. 2005 Apr;24(2):96-109. doi: 10.1016/j.matbio.2005.01.004. Epub 2005 Apr 21.

Abstract

Polypeptide sequences encoded by some exons of the human tropoelastin gene (EDP, elastin-derived peptide) have been analysed for their ability to coacervate and to self-assembly. The great majority of them were shown to form organized structures, but only a few were indeed able to coacervate. Negative staining and rotary shadowing transmission electron microscopy showed the polypeptides to adopt a variety of supramolecular organization, from filaments, as those typical of tropoelastin, to amyloid-like fibers. The results obtained gave significant insight to the possible roles played by specific polypeptide sequences of tropoelastin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid / chemistry
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Elastin / chemistry
  • Exons
  • Humans
  • Linear Models
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Temperature
  • Tropoelastin / chemistry*
  • Tropoelastin / genetics*

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Peptides
  • Tropoelastin
  • Elastin