tropoelastiini

Tropoelastin is the precursor protein to elastin, the main component of elastic fibers in connective tissue. Elastin is a highly resilient and flexible protein that allows tissues to stretch and recoil, essential for the function of skin, lungs, blood vessels, and ligaments. Tropoelastin is synthesized in the cytoplasm of cells, primarily fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells, and then secreted into the extracellular matrix.

Once in the extracellular space, tropoelastin undergoes a complex assembly process. It associates with microfibrils, which act as scaffolding, and then undergoes cross-linking mediated by the enzyme lysyl oxidase. This cross-linking forms covalent bonds between tropoelastin molecules, creating the insoluble, three-dimensional network of elastin fibers. This process is crucial for the mechanical properties of elastic tissues.

The gene encoding tropoelastin is known as ELN. Mutations in the ELN gene can lead to various disorders, most notably supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS), a condition characterized by narrowing of the aorta. Alterations in tropoelastin structure or expression can also contribute to other connective tissue disorders and aging-related changes in tissue elasticity. Research into tropoelastin and elastin continues to explore their roles in health and disease, as well as potential therapeutic strategies for conditions involving elastin deficiency or dysfunction.