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Age estimation based on aspartic acid racemization in elastin from the yellow ligaments

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Abstract

The yellow ligaments of the spine are characterized by an exceptionally high content of elastin, a protein with a proved longevity in several human tissues. This unique biochemical composition suggested a suitability of yellow ligaments for age estimation based on aspartic acid racemization (AAR), which was tested by determination of AAR in total tissue specimens and in purified elastin from yellow ligaments of individuals of known age. AAR was found to increase with age in both sample sets. The purified elastin samples exhibited a much faster kinetics than the total tissue, with ca. 3.7–4.6-fold higher apparent rates. The relationship between AAR and age was much closer in the purified elastin samples ( r =0.96–0.99) and it can therefore be used as a basis for biochemical age estimation. The analysis of total tissue samples cannot be recommended since the AAR values can be strongly influenced even by slight, histologically non-detectable variations in the collagen content. Age estimation based on AAR in purified elastin from yellow ligaments may be a valuable additional tool in the identification of unidentified cadavers, especially in cases where other methods cannot be applied (e.g. no available teeth, body parts).

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Notes

  1. In proteins the so-called racemization of aspartic acid (AAR) involves both aspargine and aspartic acid that decompose via a succimide ring to the same four residues, namely L-aspartyl, D-aspartyl, L-isoaspartyl and D-isoaspartyl, all of which are in chemical equilibrium via the succimide ring (for overview see Ritz-Timme and Collins 2002). Asparingyl, aspartyl, isoaspartyl and succinimidyl residues, are all converted to free aspartic acid during acid hydrolysis, a preparative step in chromatographic amino acid analysis for biochemical age estimation.

  2. The kinetics of AAR is described by the equation ln [(1+D/L)/(1−D/L)]=2 kAsp t+constant (where kAsp is the first order reversible rate constant for aspartic acid); for derivation of this equation see Bada and Schroeder (1975). Theoretically, the equation is valid only for free amino acids in aqueous solution but is has been used by the majority of groups working on age estimation based on AAR; to enable direct comparison it is also used here.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Rechtsmedizin der Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Strasse 12, 24105 Kiel, Germany

    S. Ritz-Timme & I. Laumeier

  2. Fossil Fuels and Environmental Geochemistry, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle NE3 1UH, UK

    M. Collins

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  1. S. Ritz-Timme
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  2. I. Laumeier
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  3. M. Collins
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Correspondence to S. Ritz-Timme.

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Ritz-Timme, S., Laumeier, I. & Collins, M. Age estimation based on aspartic acid racemization in elastin from the yellow ligaments. Int J Legal Med 117, 96–101 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-002-0355-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-002-0355-2

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