The oxidation of an elastin substrate by highly purified bovine aortic lysyl oxidase (LO) is markedly influenced by amphiphilic molecules known to bind to elastin. Negatively charged elastin ligands, including fatty acids, bile salts or sodium dodecyl sulfate can completely inhibit the oxidation of lysine in elastin, the cationic amphiphilic ligands stimulate the enzymatic reaction five-fold, while small hydrophilic molecules of either charge or neutral detergents have no effect. In addition, evidence has been obtained that changes in the conformation of a synthetic polypeptide substrate markedly alter its susceptibility to LO. The coacervated state of the substrate is most readily oxidized and crosslinked by the enzyme. These results point to the importance of small ligands, electrostatic charge, and conformation as substrate-directed influences which can control the expression of LO activity.