Overview
Desmosine is a biochemical found in elastin, an elastic protein found in the skin and other tissues of the body that allows them to return to their original shape after stretching or compression. Elastin is found in the walls of many organs, such as the lungs, and plays an important role in the function of those organs. Desmosine is essential to the strong elastic properties of elastin. It is responsible for the resilience and flexibility of connective tissues and is found in higher concentrations in older people, resulting in the development of wrinkles. Desmosine is used in the medical field to help diagnose and treat various diseases and conditions, including emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, and aging skin. Additionally, desmosine has been used in research on the development of novel materials with useful elastic properties.