Elastin architecture

Elastic fibers are an essential component of the extracellular matrix where they provide structural integrity and elastic recoil in a number of important tissues. A major constituent of these fibers is elastin, an insoluble metabolically stable polymer formed via extensive crosslinking of the monomeric precursor tropoelastin. Research over the past few decades has shown that tropoelastin possesses unique structural features that differ from both intrinsically disordered and globular proteins. This review details the advances in our understanding of tropoelastin's structural properties and illustrates how these dictate its biological function.