Function, Structure, Synthesis And The Use Of The Protein...

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the function, structure, synthesis and the use of the protein elastin (ELN), which encodes for one of the two elements of elastic fibers in the human body (NCBI 1). Addressing the fundamental aspects of the protein will allow us to explore the potential applications and implications of the protein if it has been modified. Introduction and Function Elastin is the one of the key components in the elastic property of tissues found in human tissues such as arteries, lungs, and elastic cartilage to name a few (Jacob, Sauvage, Osbourne 1). Elastin is mainly composed of amino acids glycine and proline, which are hydrophobic and are combined with lysine residues in crosslinks (NCBI 1). It plays a fundamental role in the recoil of tissues after being stretched, which is critical in maintaining the cells health (Weiss 1). Thirty percent of the dry weight of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in arteries is comprised of the protein elastin, hence, making it an essential part of human tissue (Krettek, Sukhova, Libby 1). Elastin can be found abundantly in the dermis of the skin, the arterial walls, the pulmonary tissues, which helps with the expansion of the lungs upon breathing and the recoil upon exhaling (Krettek, Sukhova, Libby 1). Elastin in the skin is elastic tissue intertwined with other components in the dermis through fibers that a re interconnected (Krettek, Sukhova, Libby 1). The skin is dense with elastic tissue, which allows for the