TROPOELASTIN Meaning and
Definition
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Tropoelastin is a protein molecule that plays a crucial role in the formation and organization of elastin, a highly elastic protein found in connective tissues. It is considered a precursor of elastin and serves as the fundamental building block for its assembly. Tropoelastin is synthesized within cells and then secreted into the extracellular matrix, where it undergoes extensive modifications and cross-linking to form mature elastin fibers.
The structural properties of tropoelastin allow it to give tissues such as skin, blood vessels, and lungs the ability to stretch and recoil, contributing to their overall elasticity. Its amino acid sequence is rich in glycine, proline, and alanine, which are essential for the formation of the protein's unique structural motifs. Tropoelastin also contains Lysine residues, which are crucial for the formation of covalent cross-links between tropoelastin molecules, creating a stable and durable elastin network.
Defects or deficiencies in tropoelastin can lead to various connective tissue disorders, such as cutis laxa, Marfan syndrome, and elastin-related pulmonary and arterial diseases. Studying tropoelastin and its interactions can provide insights into the mechanisms underlying these conditions and contribute to the development of therapeutic strategies. Furthermore, understanding the structure-function relationship of tropoelastin can also have implications for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine approaches aiming to design biomaterials with desired elastic properties.
Common Misspellings for TROPOELASTIN
- rropoelastin
- fropoelastin
- gropoelastin
- yropoelastin
- 6ropoelastin
- 5ropoelastin
- teopoelastin
- tdopoelastin
- tfopoelastin
- ttopoelastin
- t5opoelastin
- t4opoelastin
- tripoelastin
- trkpoelastin
- trlpoelastin
- trppoelastin
- tr0poelastin
- tr9poelastin
- troooelastin
- troloelastin
Etymology of TROPOELASTIN
The word "tropoelastin" is derived from combining the terms "tropo-" and "elastin".
The prefix "tropo-" comes from the Greek word "tropos", meaning "a turning" or "a change". In scientific terminology, "tropo-" is often used to denote a precursor or an immature form of a molecule.
"Elastin" refers to a protein that gives elastic properties to various tissues in the body, such as skin, blood vessels, and lungs.
Therefore, "tropoelastin" is a term used to describe the precursor or immature form of the elastin protein.
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