The coacervate-sol transition observed with alpha-elastin and its N-formyl O-methyl derivative.

The coacervate phase produced by raising the temperature of solutions of blocked alpha-elastin has water content and fibrillar structure at electron microscope level similar to fibrous elastin (Cox, B.A., Starcher, B.C., Urry, D.W. (1973) Biochim, Biophys. Acta 317, 209-213). The stability ranges of the coacervates under varying conditions of temperature, pH, salt concentration and concentration of added organic solvent have been investigated with results that suggest a marked sensitivity of elastin conformation to solution conditions.