Changes in amino acid composition of aortic elastin with aging and atherosclerosis

Abstract

Elastins have been isolated by hot alkaline extraction from the aortic connective tissue of subjects of different ages, and their amino acid composition has been studied. A lower content of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and histidine was observed in the elastins from the aortas of younger subjects than in those from the aortas of older subjects. Similar changes have been reported in elastins isolated by this technique from the lungs of young subjects. No significant changes in amino acid composition of aortic elastins appeared to be associated with either the severity or duration of atherosclerosis, when isolated by the technique of alkaline extraction.