Elastic fiber assembly is a complicated process involving multiple different proteins and
enzyme activities. However, the specific protein-protein interactions that facilitate elastin
polymerization have not been defined. To identify domains in the tropoelastin molecule
important for the assembly process, we utilized an in vitro assembly model to map
sequences within tropoelastin that facilitate its association with fibrillin-containing microfibrils
in the extracellular matrix. Our results show that an essential assembly domain is located in …