Taphonomic experiments reveal authentic molecular signals for fossil melanins and verify preservation of phaeomelanin in fossils
(2023) In Nature Communications 14(1).- Abstract
Melanin pigments play a critical role in physiological processes and shaping animal behaviour. Fossil melanin is a unique resource for understanding the functional evolution of melanin but the impact of fossilisation on molecular signatures for eumelanin and, especially, phaeomelanin is not fully understood. Here we present a model for the chemical taphonomy of fossil eumelanin and phaeomelanin based on thermal maturation experiments using feathers from extant birds. Our results reveal which molecular signatures are authentic signals for thermally matured eumelanin and phaeomelanin, which signatures are artefacts derived from the maturation of non-melanin molecules, and how these chemical data are impacted by sample preparation. Our... (More)
Melanin pigments play a critical role in physiological processes and shaping animal behaviour. Fossil melanin is a unique resource for understanding the functional evolution of melanin but the impact of fossilisation on molecular signatures for eumelanin and, especially, phaeomelanin is not fully understood. Here we present a model for the chemical taphonomy of fossil eumelanin and phaeomelanin based on thermal maturation experiments using feathers from extant birds. Our results reveal which molecular signatures are authentic signals for thermally matured eumelanin and phaeomelanin, which signatures are artefacts derived from the maturation of non-melanin molecules, and how these chemical data are impacted by sample preparation. Our model correctly predicts the molecular composition of eumelanins in diverse vertebrate fossils from the Miocene and Cretaceous and, critically, identifies direct molecular evidence for phaeomelanin in these fossils. This taphonomic framework adds to the geochemical toolbox that underpins reconstructions of melanin evolution and of melanin-based coloration in fossil vertebrates.
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- author
- Slater, Tiffany S. ; Ito, Shosuke ; Wakamatsu, Kazumasa ; Zhang, Fucheng ; Sjövall, Peter ; Jarenmark, Martin LU ; Lindgren, Johan LU and McNamara, Maria E.
- organization
- publishing date
- 2023-12
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Nature Communications
- volume
- 14
- issue
- 1
- article number
- 5651
- publisher
- Nature Publishing Group
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85173756792
- pmid:37803012
- ISSN
- 2041-1723
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41467-023-40570-w
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 339ac1d6-2a1f-4828-9cb6-3ffee9f53116
- date added to LUP
- 2024-01-12 10:55:29
- date last changed
- 2024-04-27 06:20:20
@article{339ac1d6-2a1f-4828-9cb6-3ffee9f53116,
abstract = {{<p>Melanin pigments play a critical role in physiological processes and shaping animal behaviour. Fossil melanin is a unique resource for understanding the functional evolution of melanin but the impact of fossilisation on molecular signatures for eumelanin and, especially, phaeomelanin is not fully understood. Here we present a model for the chemical taphonomy of fossil eumelanin and phaeomelanin based on thermal maturation experiments using feathers from extant birds. Our results reveal which molecular signatures are authentic signals for thermally matured eumelanin and phaeomelanin, which signatures are artefacts derived from the maturation of non-melanin molecules, and how these chemical data are impacted by sample preparation. Our model correctly predicts the molecular composition of eumelanins in diverse vertebrate fossils from the Miocene and Cretaceous and, critically, identifies direct molecular evidence for phaeomelanin in these fossils. This taphonomic framework adds to the geochemical toolbox that underpins reconstructions of melanin evolution and of melanin-based coloration in fossil vertebrates.</p>}},
author = {{Slater, Tiffany S. and Ito, Shosuke and Wakamatsu, Kazumasa and Zhang, Fucheng and Sjövall, Peter and Jarenmark, Martin and Lindgren, Johan and McNamara, Maria E.}},
issn = {{2041-1723}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
publisher = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
series = {{Nature Communications}},
title = {{Taphonomic experiments reveal authentic molecular signals for fossil melanins and verify preservation of phaeomelanin in fossils}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40570-w}},
doi = {{10.1038/s41467-023-40570-w}},
volume = {{14}},
year = {{2023}},
}