Use of collagenase to purify collagen from prehistoric bones for stable isotopic analysis

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(88)90299-2· OSTI ID:5254661

DeNiro, M J; Weiner, S ^[1]

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1. Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot (Israel)

The low molecular weight hydrolysis products of the reaction between collagenase and the HCl insoluble organic fraction from modern and well-preserved prehistoric bones have the same stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions and amino acid composition as collagen extracted by dissolution in warm dilute acid. The hydrolysis products produced using the collagenase method from some poorly preserved fossil bones have the same amino acid composition as the products produced from modern bones, even though the collagen extracted from these bones by the conventional solubility method bears no similarity to modern collagen either in terms of amino acid or isotopic composition. These observations suggest that collagenase can possibly be used to purify a fraction from such poorly reserved prehistoric bones that retains its in vivo isotope ratios, thereby permitting isotopic paleodietary reconstruction for bones that cannot be studied with currently available techniques.

• OSTI ID: 5254661
• Journal Information: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (USA), Journal Name: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (USA) Vol. 52:10; ISSN GCACA; ISSN 0016-7037
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
ANIMAL TISSUES
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
BODY
BONE TISSUES
CARBON ISOTOPES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
COLLAGEN
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
DECOMPOSITION
DIET
DISSOLUTION
FOOD CHAINS
GEOCHEMISTRY
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLYSIS
INORGANIC ACIDS
ISOTOPE RATIO
ISOTOPES
LYSIS
NITROGEN ISOTOPES
NUTRIENTS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PALEONTOLOGY
PROTEINS
PURIFICATION
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SCLEROPROTEINS
SKELETON
SOLVOLYSIS
TISSUES