Conformational transitions of solubilized trout elastins

CD measurements on polypeptides obtained from trout elastin by mild acid hydrolysis (α-elastin) or cyanogen bromide cleavage (CB-elastin) are compared with the results of analogous studies on bovine α-elastin. The spectra show that bovine and trout elastin, despite their compositional differences, have a similar β-turn content. This is discussed with reference to the molecular evolution of the protein and the function of β-turns in elastin.