A new analytical method of isotopic compositions of individual amino acids in tooth enamel

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K21445
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 45:Biology at organismal to population levels and anthropology, and related fields
• Research Institution: Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (2022); Kyoto University (2021); Nagoya University (2020)
• Principal Investigator: Naito Yuichi 一般財団法人電力中央研究所, サステナブルシステム研究本部, 主任研究員 (10754848)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 歯牙 / エナメル質 / アミノ酸 / 同位体比 / クロマトグラフィー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

An isolation method of individual amino acids in tooth enamel using a liquid chromatography (LC)/fraction collector system has been developed. Quantities of those amino acids in each tooth enamel sample were measured to clarify minimum weights for stable isotope analysis. As a result, it was found that at least several hundred mg of enamel powder was needed. Besides, stable isotope measurements on amino acids from modern animal teeth were conducted.

Free Research Field

自然人類学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究のねらいはこれまでに分析対象とされなかった歯牙エナメル質に着目し、その保存性の良好さから古い時代の生物資料の食性を復元する手法を開発することにある。検討の結果、安定同位体分析に必要な資料量が判明し、今後の古生物、考古学等の研究において分析化学的アプローチを適用するための端緒が開けた。