Abstract
The proportion of D- to L-enantiomers of aspartic acid in metabolically isolated proteins has been used by forensic scientists to estimate age at death. We have demonstrated the interference of a derivative of hydroxyproline (N-TFA isopropyl Hyp ester) with the N-TFA isopropyl L-Aspartic (Asp) acid ester during gas chromatography of amino acids. This has serious implications for the accurate quantification of the D- to L-Asp ratio extracted from collagenous proteins. Having demonstrated the potential for this co-elution in amino acid standards, acid-soluble dentine proteins and non-mineralised collagen, we argue that this problem can be overcome either by high resolution separation or by analysis of the (Hyp-poor) non-collagenous protein fraction.
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Received: 14 May 1998 / Accepted: 13 September 1998
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Waite, E., Collins, M. & van Duin, A. Hydroxyproline interference during the gas chromatographic analysis of D/L aspartic acid in human dentine. Int J Leg Med 112, 124–131 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004140050214
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004140050214