A 25-year-old woman presents with easy bruising, hyperelastic skin, and joint hypermobility. She reports a history of frequent joint dislocations and slow wound healing. On physical examination, her skin is notably stretchy, and her joints demonstrate an increased range of motion. Laboratory tests reveal normal serum copper levels, but genetic testing confirms a mutation in the LOX gene, which encodes lysyl oxidase. Which of the following is the primary role of lysyl oxidase in connective tissue?
