First paleoproteome study of fossil fish otoliths and the pristine preservation of the biomineral crystal host.

ABSTRACT: Otoliths are calcium carbonate components of the stato-acoustical organ responsible for hearing and maintenance of the body balance in teleost fish. During their formation, control over, e.g., morphology and carbonate polymorph is influenced by complex insoluble collagen-like protein and soluble non-collagenous protein assemblages; many of these proteins are incorporated into their aragonite crystal structure. However, in the fossil record these proteins are considered lost through diagenetic processes, hampering studies of past biomineralization mechanisms. Here we report the presence of 11 fish-specific proteins (and several isoforms) in Miocene (ca. 14.8-14.6 Ma) phycid hake otoliths. These fossil otoliths were preserved in water-impermeable clays and exhibit microscopic and crystallogr

SUBMITTER: Stolarski J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9992438 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature