Human aortic
elastin reduced with [3H]
borohydride was analysed by ion-exchange chromatography after
alkali or
acid hydrolysis.
Alkali hydrolysates of
elastins contained a radioactive peak that was eluted between
proline and
leucine. This peak was not present in foetal
elastin, but its proportion increased steadily during aging. Aortic samples from patients with annulo-aortic
ectasia (
aneurysm of the ascending aorta), including one with classical
Marfan syndrome, contained less
elastin (CNBr-insoluble material) than did the age-matched controls. The proportion of radioactivity in the new peak of all these aortas was low when compared with age-matched controls. Gas-chromatographic/mass-spectrometric analysis suggested that it contained a cyclic derivative of a hydrated
aldol-condensation product. The concentration of the cross-link precursors,
lysine aldehyde and
aldol-condensation product (estimated from the
acid-hydrolysis product 6-chloronorleucine and the
acid-degradation product of reduced
aldol-condensation product) was high in very young aortas but remained quite stable after childhood. No differences were observed in cross-link profiles of
acid hydrolysates between pathological and control aortas. A low proportion of radioactivity in the new peak may indicate the presence of young or immature
elastin in the pathological aortas.