Collagen proteins exchange oxygen with demineralisation and gelatinisation reagents and also with atmospheric moisture. (15th February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: von Holstein, Isabella C.C.; von Tersch, Matthew; Coutu, Ashley N.; Penkman, Kirsty E.H.; Makarewicz, Cheryl A.; Collins, Matthew J.
• Is Part Of: Rapid communications in mass spectrometry. Volume 32:Number 6(2018)
• Page Start: 523
• Page End: 534
• Publication Date: 2018-02-15
• Subjects: Mass spectrometry -- Periodicals; 543.65
• DOI: 10.1002/rcm.8064
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0951-4198

Abstract

Abstract : Rationale: The oxygen (O) isotope composition of collagen proteins is a potential indicator of adult residential location, useful for provenancing in ecology, archaeology and forensics. In acidic solution, proteins can exchange O from carboxylic acid moieties with reagent O. This study investigated whether this exchange occurs during demineralisation and gelatinisation preparation of bone/ivory collagen. Methods: EDTA and HCl demineralisation or gelatinisation reagents were made up in waters with different δ 18 O values, and were used to extract collagen from four skeletal tissue samples. Aliquots of extracted collagen were exposed to two different atmospheric waters, at 120°C and ambient temperature, and subsequently dried in a vacuum oven at 40°C or by freeze drying. Sample δ 18 O values were measured by HT‐EA pyrolysis/IRMS using a zero‐blank autosampler. Results: Collagen samples exchanged O with both reagent waters and atmospheric water, which altered sample δ 18 O values. Exchange with reagent waters occurred in all extraction methods, but was greater at lower pH. Damage to the collagen samples during extraction increased O exchange. The nature of exchange of O with atmospheric water depended on the temperature of exposure: kinetic fractionation of O was identified at 120°C but not at ambient temperature. Exchange was difficult to quantify due to the high variability of δ 18 O values between experimental replicates. Conclusions: Studies of δ 18 O values in collagen proteins should avoid extraction methods using acidic solutions.