Interactions of human and bovine elastins with lipids: their proteolysis by elastase.

The elastase-catalyzed hydrolysis of elastin extracted from young and old human aortas was compared with that of elastin from a bovine source. The course of the elastolysis was followed in the presence of sodium taurocholate and some unsaturated fatty acids. The results obtained suggest interesting correlations between the effects of aging on elastin, interaction of elastin with lipids and its susceptibility to proteolysis by elastase.