The elastin receptor: a galactoside-binding protein.

The elastin receptor complex contains a component of 67 kilodaltons that binds to a glycoconjugate affinity column containing beta-galactoside residues and is eluted from this column with lactose. This protein component is also released from the surface of cultured chondroblasts by incubation with lactose, and its association with immobilized elastin is inhibited by lactose. Since lactose also blocks elastic fiber formation by cultured chondroblasts, the galactoside-binding property of the elastin receptor is implicated in this process.