A method of isolating the collagen (I) α2 chain carboxytelopeptide for species identification in bone fragments

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We present a novel method for the isolation and analysis of the bone collagen (I) α2 chain carboxytelopeptide as a species biomarker. Conventional methods for the analysis and sequencing of mixtures of proteins and peptides commonly involve using the protease trypsin to cleave proteins present in the sample. However, in the study of collagen, these methods result in very complex mixtures of peptides that are difficult to analyze and the acquired results are not reproducible. Here we use bacterial collagenase (from Clostridium histolyticum) for its ability to cleave the highly unusual Gly-Xaa-Yaa repeating sequence of collagen, where Xaa usually is Pro and Yaa often is Hyp. Followed by a simple isolation step using a reverse phase solid phase extraction cartridge, the α2 (I) chain carboxytelopeptide can be readily analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and the results can be used to distinguish between different species of origin.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAnalytical Biochemistry
Volume374
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)325-334
Number of pages10
ISSN0003-2697
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008
Externally publishedYes

    Research areas

  • Archaeology, Bacterial collagenase, Collagen, Gelatin, Mass spectrometry, Meat and bone meal, Species variability, Telopeptide

ID: 229399835