biostudies-literatureColleary CGeological Society of AmericaPalaeontological AssociationDr. Larry Agenbroad Legacy Fund for ResearchEuropean Commission Marie Curie Actions ProgrammeVirginia Tech Graduate School AssemblyVirginia Space Grant ConsortiumIrish Research Council International Career Development Fellowships in Science, Engineering and TechnologyCharles J. Gose Jr. Research Scholarship2662https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7846728biostudies-literatureUnknown11(1)Biomolecules preserved in fossils are expanding our understanding of the biology and evolution of ancient animals. Molecular taphonomy seeks to understand how these biomolecules are preserved and how they can be interpreted. So far, few studies on molecular preservation have considered burial context to understand its impact on preservation or the potentially complementary information from multiple biomolecular classes. Here, we use mass spectrometry and other analytical techniques to detect the remains of proteins and lipids within intact fossil mammoth bones of different ages and varied depositional setting. By combining these approaches, we demonstrate that endogenous amino acids, amides and lipids can preserve well in fossil bone. Additionally, these techniques enable us to examine varScientific reportsMolecular preservation in mammoth bone and variation based on burial environment.PMC7846728291760Colleary CLamadrid HMDolocan ANesbitt SJO'Reilly SSfalseMolecular preservation in mammoth bone and variation based on burial environment.Biomolecules preserved in fossils are expanding our understanding of the biology and evolution of ancient animals. Molecular taphonomy seeks to understand how these biomolecules are preserved and how they can be interpreted. So far, few studies on molecular preservation have considered burial context to understand its impact on preservation or the potentially complementary information from multiple biomolecular classes. Here, we use mass spectrometry and other analytical techniques to detect the remains of proteins and lipids within intact fossil mammoth bones of different ages and varied depositional setting. By combining these approaches, we demonstrate that endogenous amino acids, amides and lipids can preserve well in fossil bone. Additionally, these techniques enable us to examine var2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Jan2025-04-26T16:43:56.821Z2025-04-06T15:16:05.292ZS-EPMC78467283351482110.1038/s41598-021-81849-6