Elastin: molecular description and function

Elastin, the protein responsible for the elastic properties of vertebrate t issues, has been thought to be solely restricted to that role. As a consequ ence, elastin was conventionally described as an amorphous polymer. Recent results in the biomedical, biochemical and biophysical fields have lead to the conclusion that the presence of elastin in the extracellular space has very complex implications involving many other molecules. The present revie w describes the current state of knowledge concerning elastin as an elastic macromolecule. First, the genetic. biological, biochemical and biophysical processes leading to a functional polymer are described. Second, the elast ic function of elastin is discussed. The controversy on elastin structure a nd elasticity is discussed and a novel dynamic mechanism of elasticity prop osed. Finally, pathologies where the elastin molecule is involved are consi dered. This updated description of functional elastin provides the required background for the understanding of its pathologies and defines clearly th e properties a substance should possess to be qualified as a good elastic b iomaterial. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All lights reserved.