Decreased lysyl oxidase activity in the aneurysm-prone, mottled mouse.

Inbred mice bearing certain alleles at the Mottled locus have defects in connective tissue which result in weakness of skin and of blood vessels. Previous studies have established that cross-links in collagen and elastin are decreased in these animals due to impaired formation of lysine-derived aldehydes. Lysyl oxidase activity in extracts of skin is markedly lower in those prepared from affected animals than control mice. An inhibitor of lysyl oxidase is present in equal amounts in affected and control skins and does not account for diminished activity found in affected animals.