The molecular aspects of elastin gene expression.

This report summarizes recent advances in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms which provide the basis for the regulation of elastin synthesis. Methods are available for the direct quantitation of elastin messenger RNA activity and absolute levels of elastin messenger RNA. Current evidence suggests, that at least for some systems, regulation of elastin synthesis primarily occurs at a pretranslational level. Recent advances in the cloning of elastin cDNA and elastin genes will permit the determination of elastin and elastin gene primary structure. These cloned elastin genes will also provide useful probes for the further analysis of the control of elastin gene expression in development and disease states.