Proteins and their modifications in a medieval mummy

0465067 - FGÚ 2017 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Mikšík, Ivan - Sedláková, Pavla - Pataridis, Statis - Bortolotti, F. - Gottardo, R.
Proteins and their modifications in a medieval mummy.
Protein Science. Roč. 25, č. 11 (2016), s. 2037-2044. ISSN 0961-8368. E-ISSN 1469-896X
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA15-01948S
Institutional support: RVO:67985823
Keywords : mummy * collagen * protein modification * deamidation * carbamylation * carboxymethylation
Subject RIV: CB - Analytical Chemistry, Separation
Impact factor: 2.523, year: 2016

Proteins and their modifications of the natural mummy of Cangrande della Scala (Prince of Verona, Northern Italy, 1291–1329) were studied. The nano-LC-Q-TOF analysis of samples of rib bone and muscle from the mummy showed the presence of different proteins including Types I, III, IV, V, and XI collagen, hemoglobin (subunits alpha and beta), ferritin, biglycan, vitronectin, prothrombin, and osteocalcin. The structure of Type I and Type III collagen was deeply studied to evaluate the occurrence of modifications in comparison with Type I and Type III collagen coming from tissues of recently died people. This analysis showed high percentage of asparaginyl and glutaminyl deamidation, carbamylation and carboxymethylation of lysine, as well as oxidation and dioxidation of methionine. The most common reaction during the natural mummification process was oxidation—the majority of lysine and proline of collagen Type I was hydroxylated whereas methionine was oxidated (oxidated or dioxidated). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study which reports the protein profile of a natural mummified human tissue and the first one which describes the carbamylation and carboxymethylation of lysine in mummified tissues.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0263788