elastin

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.