Protein sequences bound to mineral surfaces persist into deep time

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorDemarchi, Beatrice
dc.contributor.authorEcker, Michaela
dc.contributor.authorKolska Horwitz, Liora
dc.contributor.authorChazan, Michael
dc.contributor.authorKröger, Roland
dc.contributor.authorThomas-Oates, Jane
dc.contributor.authorHarding, John H
dc.contributor.authorCappellini, Enrico
dc.contributor.authorPenkman, Kirsty
dc.contributor.authorCollins, Matthew J
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-08T07:04:03Z
dc.date.available2021-10-08T07:04:03Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.description.abstractProteins persist longer in the fossil record than DNA, but the longevity, survival mechanisms and substrates remain contested. Here, we demonstrate the role of mineral binding in preserving the protein sequence in ostrich (Struthionidae) eggshell, including from the palaeontological sites of Laetoli (3.8 Ma) and Olduvai Gorge (1.3 Ma) in Tanzania. By tracking protein diagenesis back in time we find consistent patterns of preservation, demonstrating authenticity of the surviving sequences. Molecular dynamics simulations of struthiocalcin-1 and -2, the dominant proteins within the eggshell, reveal that distinct domains bind to the mineral surface. It is the domain with the strongest calculated binding energy to the calcite surface that is selectively preserved. Thermal age calculations demonstrate that the Laetoli and Olduvai peptides are 50 times older than any previously authenticated sequence (equivalent to ~16 Ma at a constant 10°C).
dc.identifier.apacitationDemarchi, B., Ecker, M., Kolska Horwitz, L., Chazan, M., Kröger, R., Thomas-Oates, J., ... Collins, M. J. (2016). Protein sequences bound to mineral surfaces persist into deep time. <i>ELife</i>, 5(4), 174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34416en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationDemarchi, Beatrice, Michaela Ecker, Liora Kolska Horwitz, Michael Chazan, Roland Kröger, Jane Thomas-Oates, John H Harding, Enrico Cappellini, Kirsty Penkman, and Matthew J Collins "Protein sequences bound to mineral surfaces persist into deep time." <i>ELife</i> 5, 4. (2016): 174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34416en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationDemarchi, B., Ecker, M., Kolska Horwitz, L., Chazan, M., Kröger, R., Thomas-Oates, J., Harding, J.H. & Cappellini, E. et al. 2016. Protein sequences bound to mineral surfaces persist into deep time. <i>ELife.</i> 5(4):174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34416en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn2050-084X
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Demarchi, Beatrice AU - Ecker, Michaela AU - Kolska Horwitz, Liora AU - Chazan, Michael AU - Kröger, Roland AU - Thomas-Oates, Jane AU - Harding, John H AU - Cappellini, Enrico AU - Penkman, Kirsty AU - Collins, Matthew J AB - Proteins persist longer in the fossil record than DNA, but the longevity, survival mechanisms and substrates remain contested. Here, we demonstrate the role of mineral binding in preserving the protein sequence in ostrich (Struthionidae) eggshell, including from the palaeontological sites of Laetoli (3.8 Ma) and Olduvai Gorge (1.3 Ma) in Tanzania. By tracking protein diagenesis back in time we find consistent patterns of preservation, demonstrating authenticity of the surviving sequences. Molecular dynamics simulations of struthiocalcin-1 and -2, the dominant proteins within the eggshell, reveal that distinct domains bind to the mineral surface. It is the domain with the strongest calculated binding energy to the calcite surface that is selectively preserved. Thermal age calculations demonstrate that the Laetoli and Olduvai peptides are 50 times older than any previously authenticated sequence (equivalent to ~16 Ma at a constant 10°C). DA - 2016 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town IS - 4 J1 - ELife LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2016 SM - 2050-084X T1 - Protein sequences bound to mineral surfaces persist into deep time TI - Protein sequences bound to mineral surfaces persist into deep time UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34416 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/34416
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationDemarchi B, Ecker M, Kolska Horwitz L, Chazan M, Kröger R, Thomas-Oates J, et al. Protein sequences bound to mineral surfaces persist into deep time. ELife. 2016;5(4):174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34416.en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Archaeology
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Science
dc.sourceELife
dc.source.journalissue4
dc.source.journalvolume5
dc.source.pagination174 - 177
dc.source.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.17092
dc.subject.otherStruthio camelus
dc.subject.otherbiochemistry
dc.subject.otherbiomineralization
dc.subject.othereggshell
dc.subject.otherevolutionary biology
dc.subject.othergenomics
dc.subject.othermolecular dynamics
dc.subject.otherpaleontology
dc.subject.otherpaleoproteomics
dc.titleProtein sequences bound to mineral surfaces persist into deep time
dc.typeJournal Article
uct.type.publicationResearch
uct.type.resourceJournal Article
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
DemarchiBeatrice_Protein_sequenc_2016.pdf
Size:
2.68 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
Journal Articles