Phylogenetically informative proteins from an Early Miocene rhinocerotid.

ABSTRACT: In the past decade, ancient protein sequences have emerged as a valuable source of data for deep-time phylogenetic inference^1-4. Still, even though ancient proteins have been reported from the Middle-Late Miocene^5,6, the recovery of protein sequences providing subordinal-level phylogenetic insights does not exceed 3.7 million years ago (Pliocene)¹. Here, we push this boundary back to 21-24 million years ago (Early Miocene) by retrieving enamel protein sequences of a rhinocerotid (Epiaceratherium sp.; CMNFV59632) from Canada's High Arctic. We recover partial sequences of seven enamel proteins and more than 1,000 peptide-spectrum matches, spanning at least 251 amino acids. Endogeneity is in line with thermal age estimates and is supported by indicators of pro

SUBMITTER: Paterson RS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12267063 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature