Quantification of nitrogenous bases, DNA and Collagen type I for the estimation of the postmortem interval in bone remains

Pérez-Martínez, Cristina; Pérez-Cárceles, María D.; Legáz, Isabel; Prieto-Bonete, Gemma; Luna, Aurelio

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.10.039

Cited by 28 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…The analysis of human models involved a minimum of 2 cases and a maximum of 164 cases per study [ 15 , 17 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systematic Review on Post-Mortem Protein Alterations: Analysis of Experimental Models and Evaluation of Potential Biomarkers of Time of Death

et al. 2022

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Estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI) is a very complex issue due to numerous variables that may affect the calculation. Several authors have investigated the quantitative and qualitative variations of protein expression on post-mortem biological samples in certain time intervals, both in animals and in humans. However, the literature data are very numerous and often inhomogeneous, with different models, tissues and proteins evaluated, such that the practical application of these methods is limited to date. The aim of this paper was to offer an organic view of the state of the art about post-mortem protein alterations for the calculation of PMI through the analysis of the various experimental models proposed. The purpose was to investigate the validity of some proteins as “molecular clocks” candidates, focusing on the evidence obtained in the early, intermediate and late post-mortem interval. This study demonstrates how the study of post-mortem protein alterations may be useful for estimating the PMI, although there are still technical limits, especially in the experimental models performed on humans. We suggest a protocol to homogenize the study of future experimental models, with a view to the next concrete application of these methods also at the crime scene.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systematic Review on Post-Mortem Protein Alterations: Analysis of Experimental Models and Evaluation of Potential Biomarkers of Time of Death

et al. 2022

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“…PMI estimation often relies on visual assessment of gross morphological changes of the body during decomposition, − even though the rate of these changes is known to be highly variable. , Accuracy of the PMI estimation decreases as decomposition progresses, and interobserver reliability differs depending on the method and the experience of the researcher. , Biochemical techniques have shown promising results in the search for a precise and accurate method to estimate late PMI in human bone; however, these methods are yet to be validated for use in forensic contexts. − …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human Bone Proteomes before and after Decomposition: Investigating the Effects of Biological Variation and Taphonomic Alteration on Bone Protein Profiles and the Implications for Forensic Proteomics

et al. 2021

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Bone proteomic studies using animal proxies and skeletonized human remains have delivered encouraging results in the search for potential biomarkers for precise and accurate postmortem interval (PMI) and the age-at-death (AAD) estimation in medico-legal investigations. The development of forensic proteomics for PMI and AAD estimation is in critical need of research on human remains throughout decomposition, as currently the effects of both inter-individual biological differences and taphonomic alteration on the survival of human bone protein profiles are unclear. This study investigated the human bone proteome in four human body donors studied throughout decomposition outdoors. The effects of ageing phenomena (in vivo and post-mortem) and intrinsic and extrinsic variables on the variety and abundancy of the bone proteome were assessed. Results indicate that taphonomic and biological variables play a significant role in the survival of proteins in bone. Our findings suggest that inter-individual and inter-skeletal differences in bone mineral density (BMD) are important variables affecting the survival of proteins. Specific proteins survive better within the mineral matrix due to their mineralbinding properties. The mineral matrix likely also protects these proteins by restricting the movement of decomposer microbes. New potential biomarkers for PMI estimation and AAD estimation were identified. Future development of forensic bone proteomics should include standard measurement of BMD and target a combination of different biomarkers.

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“…Biomolecules in bones have been successfully found in a variety of archaeological and fossil records [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ], as well as in forensic contexts (e.g., human bones collected from caseworks or cemeteries) [ 11 , 12 ], or in situations simulating forensic scenarios (e.g., using animal proxies to conduct bone proteomic studies) [ 13 , 14 ]. In particular, proteins have been shown to survive better than DNA [ 9 , 15 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bone Diagenesis in Short Timescales: Insights from an Exploratory Proteomic Analysis

Procopio

Mein

Starace

et al. 2021

Biology

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The evaluation of bone diagenetic phenomena in archaeological timescales has a long history; however, little is known about the origins of the microbes driving bone diagenesis, nor about the extent of bone diagenesis in short timeframes—such as in forensic contexts. Previously, the analysis of non-collagenous proteins (NCPs) through bottom-up proteomics revealed the presence of potential biomarkers useful in estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI). However, there is still a great need for enhancing the understanding of the diagenetic processes taking place in forensic timeframes, and to clarify whether proteomic analyses can help to develop better models for estimating PMI reliably. To address these knowledge gaps, we designed an experiment based on whole rat carcasses, defleshed long rat bones, and excised but still-fleshed rat limbs, which were either buried in soil or exposed on a clean plastic surface, left to decompose for 28 weeks, and retrieved at different time intervals. This study aimed to assess differences in bone protein relative abundances for the various deposition modalities and intervals. We further evaluated the effects that extrinsic factors, autolysis, and gut and soil bacteria had on bone diagenesis via bottom-up proteomics. Results showed six proteins whose abundance was significantly different between samples subjected to either microbial decomposition (gut or soil bacteria) or to environmental factors. In particular, muscle- and calcium-binding proteins were found to be more prone to degradation by bacterial attack, whereas plasma and bone marrow proteins were more susceptible to exposure to extrinsic agents. Our results suggest that both gut and soil bacteria play key roles in bone diagenesis and protein decay in relatively short timescales, and that bone proteomics is a proficient resource with which to identify microbially-driven versus extrinsically-driven diagenesis.

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Quantification of nitrogenous bases, DNA and Collagen type I for the estimation of the postmortem interval in bone remains

Cited by 28 publications

References 51 publications

Systematic Review on Post-Mortem Protein Alterations: Analysis of Experimental Models and Evaluation of Potential Biomarkers of Time of Death

Systematic Review on Post-Mortem Protein Alterations: Analysis of Experimental Models and Evaluation of Potential Biomarkers of Time of Death

Human Bone Proteomes before and after Decomposition: Investigating the Effects of Biological Variation and Taphonomic Alteration on Bone Protein Profiles and the Implications for Forensic Proteomics

Bone Diagenesis in Short Timescales: Insights from an Exploratory Proteomic Analysis

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