Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Molecular Model for Elastin Structure and Function

Nature volume 246, pages 461–466 (1973)Cite this article

Abstract

Amino acid sequences in elastin contain striking patterns. These are interpreted in terms of possible molecular conformations, and an ‘oiled coil’ model is proposed to explain the protein's elastic behaviour.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Rich, A., and Crick, F. H. C., J. molec. Biol., 3, 483 (1961).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Ramachandran, G. N., in Aspects of Protein Structure (edit. by Ramachandran, G. N.) (Academic Press, New York, 1963).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ultrastructure of Protein Fibers (edit. by Borasky, R.) (Academic Press, New York, 1963).

  4. Lucas, F., Shaw, J. T. B., and Smith, S. G., Biochem. J., 66, 468 (1957).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Marsh, R. E., Corey, R. B., and Pauling, L., Biochim. biophys. Acta, 16, 1 (1955).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Astbury, W. T., J. Int. Soc. Leather Trades' Chemists, 24, 69 (1940).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Gotte, L., Mammi, M., and Pezzin, G., in Symposium on Fibrous Proteins (edit. by Crewther, W. G.), 236 (Butterworths, Australia, 1968).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Partridge, S. M., Nature, 213, 1123 (1967).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Partridge, S. M., in Chemistry and Molecular Biology of the Intercellular Matrix (edit. by Balazs, E. A.), 1, 593 (Academic Press, London, 1970).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Hoeve, C. A. J., and Flory, P. J., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 80, 6523 (1958).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Weis-Fogh, T., and Anderson, S. O., in Chemistry and Molecular Biology of the Intercellular Matrix (edit. by Balazs, E. A.), 1, 671 (Academic Press, London, 1970).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Weis-Fogh, T., and Anderson, S. O., Nature, 227, 718 (1970).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Partridge, S. M., Fed. Proc., 25, 1023 (1966).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Sandberg, L. B., Weissman, N., and Smith, D. W., Biochemistry, N.Y., 8, 2940 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Hoffman, A. S., in Biomaterials (edit. by Bement, A. L.) (University of Washington Press, Seattle, 1971).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Thomas, J., Elsden, D. F., and Partridge, S. M., Nature, 200, 651 (1963).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Franzblau, C., and Lent, R. W., in Structure, Function, and Evolution in Proteins, Brookhaven Symposia in Biology (Upton, New York, 1968).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Smith, D. W., Brown, D. M., and Carnes, W. H., J. biol. Chem., 247, 2427 (1972).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Foster, J. A., Bruenger, E., Gray, W. R., and Sandberg, L. B., Fed. Proc., 31, 479 (1972, Abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Foster, J. A., Bruenger, E., Gray, W. R., and Sandberg, L. B., J. biol. Chem., 218, 2876 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Edman, P., and Begg, G. E., Eur. J. Biochem., 1, 80 (1967).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Sandberg, L. B., Weissman, N., and Gray, W. R., Biochemistry, N.Y., 10, 52 (1971).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Sandberg, L. B., Gray, W. R., and Bruenger, E., Biochim. biophys. Acta, 285, 453 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Britten, R. J., and Kohne, D. E., Science, N.Y., 161, 529 (1968).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Koltun, W. L., Biopolymers, 3, 665 (1967).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Ramachandran, G. N., Venkatachalam, C. M., and Krimm, S., Biophys. J., 6, 849 (1966).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Urry, D. W., Starcher, B., and Partridge, S. M., Nature, 222, 795 (1969).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Gotte, L., Mammi, M., and Pezzin, G., Nature, 225, 380 (1970).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Geddes, A. J., Parker, K. D., Atkins, E. D. T., and Beighton, E., J. molec. Biol., 32, 343 (1968).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Venkatachalam, C. M., Biopolymers, 6, 1425 (1968).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Urry, D. W., Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 68, 810 (1971).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Torchia, D. A., and Piez, K., J. molec. Biol., 76, 419 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Sandberg, L. B., Zeikus, R. D., and Coltrain, I. M., Biochim. biophys. Acta, 236, 542 (1972).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112

    WILLIAM R. GRAY

  2. Departments of Pathology and Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112

    LAWRENCE B. SANDBERG

  3. Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112

    JUDITH A. FOSTER

  4. Biochemistry Department, Boston University Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts

    JUDITH A. FOSTER

Authors
  1. WILLIAM R. GRAY
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. LAWRENCE B. SANDBERG
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. JUDITH A. FOSTER
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

GRAY, W., SANDBERG, L. & FOSTER, J. Molecular Model for Elastin Structure and Function. Nature 246, 461–466 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/246461a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/246461a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing