Influence of supramolecular architecture upon the molecular mobility of elastin

Mature elastin is a cross-linked polymer responsible for elastic recoil in various connective tissues. The most probable model for the secondary structure seems to be a dynamic blend between a random coil network and an anisotropic model with the alternation of α helices and recurrent or isolated β turns. We compare the chain dynamics of native elastin purified from bovine neck ligament and its insoluble products obtained from enzymatic digestion. The soluble, uncross-linked derivative is also analysed to obtain new information on the influence of network on elastin molecular mobility. TSC and DDS experiments bring to the fore secondary and main modes for elastin and its derivatives. It has been highlighted that elastolysis and cross-linking do not affect the localised motions, but modify in a significant manner more delocalised motions along the polypeptidic chains.