Studies on the evolution of elastin--I. Phylogenetic distribution

1. Aortae and other tissues from numerous animals were examined for the presence of the rubbery protein elastin by (a) chemical purification and amino acid analysis, (b) presence of the cross-linking amino acids desmosine and isodesmosine and (c) histological staining. 2. Elastin was found in all vertebrates examined (42 species) with the exception of cyclostomes (3 species). It was absent from all invertebrates tested (14 species). 3. The amino acid compositions of vertebrate elastins showed marked and interesting interspecies variations.