Quality assurance in age estimation based on aspartic acid racemisation

Ritz‐Timme, Stefanie; Rochholz, Gertrud; Schütz, H. W.; Collins, Matthew J.; Waite, E. R.; Cattaneo, Cristina; Kaatsch, H.-J.

doi:10.1007/s004140000159

Cited by 57 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…The extent of aspartic acid racemisation was determined as described by Ritz et al (1993) and Ritz-Timme (1999), taking into account defined quality standards (Ritz-Timme et al 2000). Briefly, the dried samples were hydrolysed in 6 N HCl at 100°C for 6 h. Hydrochloric acid and water were removed in a vacuum and the dry hydrolysate was esterified with isopropanol/sulfuric acid (10:1) for 1 h at 110°C.…”

Section: Analysis By Gcmentioning

confidence: 99%

Archaeological collagen: Why worry about collagen diagenesis?

Dobberstein

Collins

Craig

et al. 2009

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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131

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Section: Analysis By Gcmentioning

confidence: 99%

Archaeological collagen: Why worry about collagen diagenesis?

Dobberstein

Collins

Craig

et al. 2009

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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131

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“…The extent of aspartic acid racemisation was determined as described by Ritz et al [21] and Ritz-Timme [23], taking into account defined quality standards [26]. Briefly, 5 mg of purified and lyophilized elastin samples were hydrolysed in 6 N HCl at 100°C for 6 h. Hydrochloric acid and water were removed in a vacuum and the dry hydrolysate was esterified with isopropanol/sulfuric acid (10:1) for 1 h at 110°C.…”

Section: Purification Of Elastinmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Even more than for dentine, the use of quality standards [26] is important, and the result of the elastin preparation has to be controlled strictly by analysis of the amino acid composition.…”

Section: Aar In Purified Elastin From Arteriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aspartic acid racemisation in purified elastin from arteries as basis for age estimation

2009

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Aspartic acid racemisation (AAR) results in an age-dependent accumulation of D: -aspartic acid in durable human proteins and can be used as a basis for age estimation. Routinely, age estimation based on AAR is performed by analysis of dentine. However, in forensic practise, teeth are not always available. Non-dental tissues for age estimation may be suitable for age estimation based on AAR if they contain durable proteins that can be purified and analysed. Elastin is such a durable protein. To clarify if purified elastin from arteries is a suitable sample for biochemical age estimation, AAR was determined in purified elastin from arteries from individuals of known age (n = 68 individuals, including n = 15 putrefied corpses), considering the influence of different stages of atherosclerosis and putrefaction on the AAR values. AAR was found to increase with age. The relationship between AAR and age was good enough to serve as basis for age estimation, but worse than known from dentinal proteins. Intravital and post-mortem degradation of elastin may have a moderate effect on the AAR values. Age estimation based on AAR in purified elastin from arteries may be a valuable additional tool in the identification of unidentified cadavers, especially in cases where other methods cannot be applied (e.g., no available teeth and body parts).

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“…8 In organisms with long life spans such as humans, aspartic acid racemization has been a commonly used measure for age determination in forensic science. 9,10 The accuracy of age validation by d-aspartate accumulation for human tooth dentin has been estimated to be -3 years. 11 Similar studies have investigated the aspartic acid racemization in human bones and blood stains.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Racemized and Isomerized Proteins in Aging Rat Teeth and Eye Lens

Warmack

Mansilla²,

Goya

et al. 2016

Rejuvenation Research

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The quantification of aspartic acid racemization in the proteins of nonmetabolically active tissues can be used as a measure of chronological aging in humans and other long-lived organisms. However, very few studies have been conducted in shorter-lived animals such as rodents, which are increasingly used as genetic and metabolic models of aging. An initial study had reported significant changes in the ratio of d-to l-aspartate in rat molars with age. Using a sensitive HPLC method for the determination of d-and l-aspartate from protein hydrolysates, we found no accumulation of d-aspartate in the molars of 17 rats that ranged in age from 2 to 44 months, and the amount of d-aspartate per molar did not correspond with molar eruption date as had been previously reported. However, developing an alternate approach, we found significant accumulation of isomerized aspartyl residues in eye lens proteins that are also formed by spontaneous degradation processes. In this study, we used the human protein l-isoaspartate/d-aspartate O-methyltransferase (PCMT1) as an analytical reagent in a sensitive and convenient procedure that could be used to rapidly examine multiple samples simultaneously. We found levels of isomerized aspartyl residues to be about 35 times higher in the lens extracts of 18-month-old rats versus 2-month-old rats, suggesting that isomerization may be an effective marker for biological aging in this range of ages. Importantly, we found that the accumulation appeared to plateau in rats of 18 months and older, indicating that potentially novel mechanisms for removing altered proteins may develop with age.

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Quality assurance in age estimation based on aspartic acid racemisation

Cited by 57 publications

References 4 publications

Archaeological collagen: Why worry about collagen diagenesis?

Archaeological collagen: Why worry about collagen diagenesis?

Aspartic acid racemisation in purified elastin from arteries as basis for age estimation

Racemized and Isomerized Proteins in Aging Rat Teeth and Eye Lens

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