Enzymatic and immunological activity of 4000 years aged bone alkaline phosphatase

Abstract

Structurally intact and functionally active human bone alkaline pbosphatase was isolated from clavicle fragments of IDU, an Egyptian mummy of the Old Kingdom (2150 + 50 BC). Both anion exchange and affinity chromatographies were employed to optimise the preparation of the ancient enzyme resulting in a specific activity of 180 * 30 mU/mg. The intactness of the bone enzyme fractions of the wheat-germ lectin affinity chromatography was successfully demonstrated in an ELISA using the monoclonal antibody BAP A. Fortunately, the mummified bone was not contaminated by fungi or bacteria.

Antibodies are forever: a study using 12–26‐year‐old expired antibodies

“…These results were not totally unexpected; immunoreactive, functional enzymes have been obtained from human samples that were several thousand years old, suggesting that the tertiary protein structures, among which is the immunoglobulin antigen recognition pocket, may indeed survive for much longer than has previously been thought. Even though only half of the shelf‐life that we have shown here, 10 years may well be a workable duration for diagnostic antibodies supplied as supernatants or ascites.…”

Steroidhormone in bodengelagertem Skelettmaterial

“…Ein Schwerpunkt liegt auf der Identifikation von Enzymen in alten Geweben, z. B. Arbeiten über Phosphatasen von Demir et al (2003), Etspüler et al (1995), Kaup et al (1994) und Weser et al (1995).…”