Amino acid sequence analysis of fossil proteins using mass spectrometry

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23654177
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Stratigraphy/Paleontology
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: ENDO Kazuyoshi 東京大学, 理学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (80251411)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): TAKAO Toshifumi 大阪大学, 蛋白質研究所, 教授 (10197048)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-28 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 化石タンパク質 / 分子化石 / 腕足動物 / 分子古生物学 / 分子進化学 / 質量分析 / 硬骨格プロテオーム / バイオミネラリゼーション

Outline of Final Research Achievements

As a first step toward determining amino acid sequences of fossil peptides, 　a combined proteome and transcriptome analysis of the shell and mantle of the terebratulide brachiopods Laqueus rubellus and Coptothyris grayi was carried out. As a result, a total of 75 shell matrix proteins were identified, and it was clarified that most of them are novel proteins not homologous with known skeletal matrix proteins. On the other hand, a preliminary analysis of fossil proteins of L. rubellus and C. grayi 0.39 Ma old was done, having revealed that most of the amino acids occluded in the fossil shells exist as free amino acids rather than as part of peptides, and that an extensive concentration of shell extracts will be needed to obtain amino acid sequences from these fossils.

Free Research Field

分子古生物学