Objective:

To provide evidence for the presence of endogenous collagen in fossilized dinosaur bones.

Approach:

• Analytical Techniques: The study utilized liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to detect hydroxyproline and bottom-up proteomics to confirm collagen peptides.
• Supporting Methods: Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and cross-polarized light microscopy (XPol) were employed to support findings and analyze the fossil's structural properties.

Key Findings:

• Collagen remnants were detected in a well-preserved Edmontosaurus sacrum.
• Hydroxyproline, a collagen-associated amino acid, was identified in acid-digested samples.
• Specific collagen peptides matched sequences found in Brachylophosaurus canadensis and Tyrannosaurus rex.
• Birefringence consistent with collagen-bound bioapatite was observed in localized regions of the fossil.

Interpretation:

The findings challenge the notion that organic materials in fossils are solely due to contamination.

Limitations:

• The study primarily focuses on a single fossil specimen.
• Further research is needed to assess the reproducibility of the findings across additional fossil samples.

Conclusion:

The results indicate potential for ancient protein sequencing and further exploration of biomolecular preservation in fossils.

Sources:

• University of Liverpool