Tropoelastin Derivatives

Abstract

The invention relates to derivatives of tropoelastin and variants of those derivatives. The invention further provides expression products and hybrid molecules of the derivatives and variants of the invention. The invention further provides methods for the production of the derivatives, variants, expression products and hybrid molecules. Further provided are formulations, cross-linked structures and implants comprising the derivatives, variants, expression products and hybrid molecules of the invention. Further provided are uses of the derivatives, variants, expression products and hybrid molecules of the invention.

1 - 81 . (canceled) 
     
     
         82 . A method of imparting glycosaminoglycan binding activity to a biological polymer or enhancing the glycosaminoglycan binding activity of a biological polymer, comprising linking to the biological polymer a tropoelastin derivative comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 65% similarity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12 wherein the tropoelastin derivative binds glycosaminoglycan. 
     
     
         83 . A method as in  claim 82  wherein the tropoelastin derivative consists of an amino acid sequence having at least 65% similarity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14 or a part of SEQ ID NO: 14, and wherein the tropoelastin derivative binds glycosaminoglycan. 
     
     
         84 . A method as in  claim 82  wherein the tropoelastin derivative consists of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14 or a part of SEQ ID NO: 14, which binds glycosaminoglycan. 
     
     
         85 . A method as in  claim 82  wherein the tropoelastin derivative comprises the amino acid sequence from position 10 to position 200 of SEQ ID NO: 9. 
     
     
         86 . A method as in  claim 82  wherein the tropoelastin derivative comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12. 
     
     
         87 . A method as in  claim 82  wherein the tropoelastin derivative comprises the amino acid sequence from position 1 to 33 of SEQ ID NO: 12. 
     
     
         88 . A method of reducing glycosaminoglycan binding activity of a biological polymer which comprises a tropoelastin derivative having an amino acid sequence having at least 65% similarity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12, comprising deleting the tropoelastin derivative from the biological polymer. 
     
     
         89 . A method as in  claim 88  wherein the tropoelastin derivative has the amino acid sequence from position 1 to position 33 of SEQ ID NO: 12. 
     
     
         90 . A method as in  claim 88  wherein the tropoelastin derivative has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12. 
     
     
         91 . A method as in  claim 88  wherein the biological polymer is a tropoelastin molecule. 
     
     
         92 . A method as in  claim 91  wherein the tropoelastin molecule comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         93 . A method as in  claim 88  wherein the biological polymer is encoded by a nucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, and the tropoelastin derivative is deleted from the biological polymer by deleting from the nucleotide the nucleotide sequence from position 1678 to position 1776 of SEQ ID NO: 1 and expressing the nucleotide in a host cell.