371
Mechanical design as well as the mechanical properties of whale arteries have
been also investigated (Gosline and Shadwick 1996 ; Shadwick 1999 ). Special
attention was paid to non-linear elasticity (Shadwick 1999 ).
In addition to its localization within circulatory system of cetaceans, elastin was
found also as a structural component of other organs of these animals. For example,
Prahl et al. ( 2009 ) reported on the presence of elastin in the nasal complex in the
harbour porpoise ( Phocoena phocoena ). “A blade-like elastin body at the caudal
wall of the epicranial respiratory tract may act as antagonist of the musculature that
moves the blowhole ligament,” (Prahl et al. 2009 ).
In the common dolphin ( Delphinus delphis ) elastin was found in the ovary
(Takahashi et al. 2006 ).
10.4 Conclusion
Thus, according to the modern point of view “Elastin is a versatile elastic protein
that dominates fl exible tissues capable of recoil, and facilitates commensurate cell
interactions in these tissues in all higher vertebrates. Elastin’s persistence and insolubility hampered early efforts to construct versatile biomaterials. Subsequently the
fi eld has progressed substantially through the adapted use of solubilized elastin,
elastin-based peptides and the increasing availability of recombinant forms of the
natural soluble elastin precursor, tropoelastin,” (Almine et al. 2010 ).
For example, the product with commercial name “BIO MARINE ELASTIN” is
extracted by enzymatic hydrolysis of insoluble connective tissues of particular species of marine fi sh. Thanks to a special hydrolysis process, the long protein chains
are cut and transformed into small peptides, polypeptides and amino acids that can
penetrate into the skin (see for details www.cobiosa.com ). The high insolubility of
elastin has limited its use in biomedicine. Soluble derivatives of elastin including
elastin peptides, digested elastins, and tropoelastin have much broader applications.
Recombinantly produced tropoelastin, the soluble monomer of elastin, has been
shown to exhibit many of the properties intrinsic to the mature biopolymer (Wise
et al. 2009 ). As such, recombinant human tropoelastin provides a versatile building
block for the manufacture of biomaterials with potential for diverse applications in
elastic tissues. One of the major benefi ts of soluble elastins is that they can be engineered into a range of physical forms.
References
Aaron BB, Gosline JM (1980) Optical properties of single elastin fi bres indicate random protein
conformation. Nature 287:865–867
Aaron BB, Gosline JM (1981) Elastin as a random–network elastomer: a mechanical and optical
analysis of single elastin fi bres. Biopolymers 20:1247–1260
Agnisola C, Tota B (1994) Structure and function of the fi sh cardiac ventricle: fl exibility and limitations. Cardioscience 5(3):145–153
References
Mechanical design as well as the mechanical properties of whale arteries have
been also investigated (Gosline and Shadwick 1996 ; Shadwick 1999 ). Special
attention was paid to non-linear elasticity (Shadwick 1999 ).
In addition to its localization within circulatory system of cetaceans, elastin was
found also as a structural component of other organs of these animals. For example,
Prahl et al. ( 2009 ) reported on the presence of elastin in the nasal complex in the
harbour porpoise ( Phocoena phocoena ). “A blade-like elastin body at the caudal
wall of the epicranial respiratory tract may act as antagonist of the musculature that
moves the blowhole ligament,” (Prahl et al. 2009 ).
In the common dolphin ( Delphinus delphis ) elastin was found in the ovary
(Takahashi et al. 2006 ).
10.4 Conclusion
Thus, according to the modern point of view “Elastin is a versatile elastic protein
that dominates fl exible tissues capable of recoil, and facilitates commensurate cell
interactions in these tissues in all higher vertebrates. Elastin’s persistence and insolubility hampered early efforts to construct versatile biomaterials. Subsequently the
fi eld has progressed substantially through the adapted use of solubilized elastin,
elastin-based peptides and the increasing availability of recombinant forms of the
natural soluble elastin precursor, tropoelastin,” (Almine et al. 2010 ).
For example, the product with commercial name “BIO MARINE ELASTIN” is
extracted by enzymatic hydrolysis of insoluble connective tissues of particular species of marine fi sh. Thanks to a special hydrolysis process, the long protein chains
are cut and transformed into small peptides, polypeptides and amino acids that can
penetrate into the skin (see for details www.cobiosa.com ). The high insolubility of
elastin has limited its use in biomedicine. Soluble derivatives of elastin including
elastin peptides, digested elastins, and tropoelastin have much broader applications.
Recombinantly produced tropoelastin, the soluble monomer of elastin, has been
shown to exhibit many of the properties intrinsic to the mature biopolymer (Wise
et al. 2009 ). As such, recombinant human tropoelastin provides a versatile building
block for the manufacture of biomaterials with potential for diverse applications in
elastic tissues. One of the major benefi ts of soluble elastins is that they can be engineered into a range of physical forms.
References
Aaron BB, Gosline JM (1980) Optical properties of single elastin fi bres indicate random protein
conformation. Nature 287:865–867
Aaron BB, Gosline JM (1981) Elastin as a random–network elastomer: a mechanical and optical
analysis of single elastin fi bres. Biopolymers 20:1247–1260
Agnisola C, Tota B (1994) Structure and function of the fi sh cardiac ventricle: fl exibility and limitations. Cardioscience 5(3):145–153
References