An Elastin-Derived Self-Assembling Polypeptide. (13th June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pepe, Antonietta; Bochicchio, Brigida
• Other Names: Yoshida Eri Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of soft matter. Volume 2013(2013)
• Publication Date: 2013-06-13
• Subjects: Soft condensed matter -- Periodicals; Soft condensed matter; Periodicals; 530.41
• DOI: 10.1155/2013/732157
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2356-7627

Abstract

Abstract : Elastin is an extracellular matrix protein responsible for the elastic properties of organs and tissues, the elastic properties being conferred to the protein by the presence of elastic fibers. In the perspective of producing tailor-made biomaterials of potential interest in nanotechnology and biotechnology fields, we report a study on an elastin-derived polypeptide. The choice of the polypeptide sequence encoded by exon 6 of Human Tropoelastin Gene is dictated by the peculiar sequence of the polypeptide. As a matter of fact, analogously to elastin, it is constituted of a hydrophobic region (GLGAFPAVTFPGALVPGG) and of a more hydrophilic region rich of lysine and alanine residues (VADAAAAYKAAKA). The role played by the two different regions in triggering the adoption of beta-turn and beta-sheet conformations is herein discussed and demonstrated to be crucial for the self-aggregation properties of the polypeptide.