Fibrillar structure of alpha-elastin methylester complexes with glycoproteins and proteoglycans

alpha-Elastin methylester forms with proteoglycan subunits and structural glycoproteins water-insoluble complexes which after staining with phosphotungstic acid (pH 7.0), reveal at large magnification bundles of slender smooth fibrils with a diameter from 4 to 5 nm. Similar fibrils can be observed after interaction of alpha-elastin methylester with chondroitin sulfate, but only if fixation with glutaraldehyde is used prior to staining. Phosphotungstic acid alters the organization of the complexes, in particular those formed with ligands of low molecular weight. The possible biological significance of the interactions studied is discussed.