Systematic identification of aldehydes and aldehyde-derived crosslinks in elastin by methods including a modified Strecker reaction

Summary The crosslinks in elastin of bovine ligamentum nuchae and of the intimal-medial and adventitial segments of rat thoracic aorta were evaluated comparatively. Reaction with [14C] -sodium cyanide and ammonia was used to stabilize and identify aldehydes and certain aldehyde-derived crosslinks. The derivatives obtained demonstrated the presence in the aortic elastins of α-amino adipic acid σ-semialdehyde, dehydrolysinonorleucine and the aldol condensate of αamino adipic acid σ-semialdehyde. In addition to lysinonorleucine and the desmosines, other, but as yet uncharacterized compounds were found to be present.