A simplified sample preparation for hair and skin proteins towards the application of archaeological fur and leather

ABSTRACT: Traditional protocols for proteomics analysis usually start by extracting or solubilizing the proteins from their substrates. This step can be challenging for archaeological proteins, when they are heavily contaminated or decayed. The remains of animal fur/leather objects from the singer’s burial of Trossingen, an early medieval burial (580 A.D.) from Southwest Germany were submitted to proteomics analysis for species identification. One leather sample (TS3) yielded enough proteins to be identified as cow using a urea-based extraction (method “U”), confirming the microscopic identification. But two other samples (TS1 and TS2), compacted in a greyish brittle matrix with embedded hair visible only under microscope, could not be characterized with that method. A series of tests was performed using reduction/alkylation with tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine/chloroacetamide at 95°C directly on the matrix (method “95C”), with or without the use of paramagnetic beads as cleaning procedure (from the single-pot solidphase-enhanced sample preparation or SP3). Hair keratins were best recovered in the fur samples when digestion was performed directly on the insoluble fraction after reduction/alkylation. For both samples TS1 and TS2, an ovicaprine species was identified, with TS1 firmly identified as2 sheep due to the exceptional preservation of keratins and keratin-associated proteins. The simplified protocol also showed improvements on the identification of collagen in the leather sample TS3.

INSTRUMENT(S):

ORGANISM(S): Bos Taurus (bovine) Ovis Aries

TISSUE(S): Hair, Skin

SUBMITTER: Caroline Solazzo  

LAB HEAD: Caroline Solazzo

PROVIDER: PXD036745 | Pride | 2023-01-17

REPOSITORIES: Pride