Elastin, alpha

Elastin is a protein in connective tissue that is elastic and allows many tissues in the body to resume their shape after stretching or contracting. Elastin helps skin to return to its original position when it is poked or pinched. Elastin is also an important load-bearing tissue in the bodies of mammals and used in places where mechanical energy is required to be stored. Elastin is particularly abundant in large elastic blood vessels such as the aorta. It is also very important in the lungs, elastic ligaments, the skin, the bladder, and elastic cartilage. Elastin is composed largely of glycine, proline, and other hydrophobic residues and contains multiple lysine-derived crosslinks, such as desmosines, which link the individual polypeptide chains into a rubberlike network. The hydrophobic regions of the chains, between the crosslinks, are highly mobile. The hydrophobic and crosslinking domains are coded by separate, small (27 to 114 bp) exons that are separated by large introns. The initial translation product is a 72kD polypeptide, designated tropoelastin. Elastin is made by linking many soluble tropoelastin protein molecules, in a reaction catalyzed by lysyl oxidase, to make a massive insoluble, durable cross-linked array. Applications: Suitable for ELISA. Not suitable for Western Blot. Other Applications not tested. Recommended Diltuions: Optimal dilutions to be determined by the researcher. In many cases, antigenicity of elastic fiber components can be enhanced by treating with 6M guanidine HCl, 50mM dithiothreitol, 20mM Tris pH 8.0 for 15 minutes. After washing with 20mM Tris pH 8.0, the slides are treated with 100mM iodoacetamide in the dark for 15 minutes, washed and stained using normal protocols. Storage and Stability: Lyophilized powder may be stored at -20 degrees C. Stable for 12 months at -20 degrees C. Reconstitute by adding sterile 40-50% glycerol, ddH2O. Aliquot and store at -20 degrees C. Reconstituted product is stable for 12 months at -20 degrees C. For maximum recovery of product, centrifuge the original vial after thawing and prior to removing the cap. Further dilutions can be made in assay buffer.