Mineralization of elastin extracted from human aortic tissues

Elastin was isolated from human aortic tissues by extraction with formic acid. The aortas came from individuals of both sexes with ages ranging from 18 to 67 years. The elastin was treated to remove pre-existing nuclei for hydroxyapatite and mineralized in vitro by incubation in a solution metastable to hydroxyapatite. The results showed an increased rate of mineralization in vitro as the age of the individual from whom the aorta was obtained increased. The lag period in mineral formation seen with elastin samples obtained from individuals below the age 40, disappeared with older elastin. Amino-acid analysis of the elastin samples confirmed earlier results by indicating an increase in the more polar amino acids in the older elastin samples. Exposure of the extracted elastin samples to several proteolytic enzymes including elastase confirmed the identity of the material as elastin.