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Preservation potential of keratin in deep time

Schweitzer, Mary Higby LU ; Zheng, Wenxia ; Moyer, Alison E. ; Sjövall, Peter and Lindgren, Johan LU (2018) In PLoS ONE 13(11).
Abstract

Multiple fossil discoveries and taphonomic experiments have established the durability of keratin. The utility and specificity of antibodies to identify keratin peptides has also been established, both in extant feathers under varying treatment conditions, and in feathers from extinct organisms. Here, we show localization of feather-keratin antibodies to control and heat-treated feathers, testifying to the repeatability of initial data supporting the preservation potential of keratin. We then show new data at higher resolution that demonstrates the specific response of these antibodies to the feather matrix, we support the presence of protein in heat-treated feathers using ToF-SIMS, and we apply these methods to a fossil feather... (More)

Multiple fossil discoveries and taphonomic experiments have established the durability of keratin. The utility and specificity of antibodies to identify keratin peptides has also been established, both in extant feathers under varying treatment conditions, and in feathers from extinct organisms. Here, we show localization of feather-keratin antibodies to control and heat-treated feathers, testifying to the repeatability of initial data supporting the preservation potential of keratin. We then show new data at higher resolution that demonstrates the specific response of these antibodies to the feather matrix, we support the presence of protein in heat-treated feathers using ToF-SIMS, and we apply these methods to a fossil feather preserved in the unusual environment of sinter hot springs. We stress the importance of employing realistic conditions such as sediment burial when designing experiments intended as proxies for taphonomic processes occurring in the fossil record. Our data support the hypothesis that keratin, particularly the β-keratin that comprises feathers, has potential to preserve in fossil remains.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
PLoS ONE
volume
13
issue
11
publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
external identifiers
  • pmid:30485294
  • scopus:85057465903
ISSN
1932-6203
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0206569
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
83dd1155-fb49-4b72-8c5f-7389d5bf28c1
date added to LUP
2018-12-10 09:36:53
date last changed
2024-04-01 17:19:17
@article{83dd1155-fb49-4b72-8c5f-7389d5bf28c1,
  abstract     = {{<p>Multiple fossil discoveries and taphonomic experiments have established the durability of keratin. The utility and specificity of antibodies to identify keratin peptides has also been established, both in extant feathers under varying treatment conditions, and in feathers from extinct organisms. Here, we show localization of feather-keratin antibodies to control and heat-treated feathers, testifying to the repeatability of initial data supporting the preservation potential of keratin. We then show new data at higher resolution that demonstrates the specific response of these antibodies to the feather matrix, we support the presence of protein in heat-treated feathers using ToF-SIMS, and we apply these methods to a fossil feather preserved in the unusual environment of sinter hot springs. We stress the importance of employing realistic conditions such as sediment burial when designing experiments intended as proxies for taphonomic processes occurring in the fossil record. Our data support the hypothesis that keratin, particularly the β-keratin that comprises feathers, has potential to preserve in fossil remains.</p>}},
  author       = {{Schweitzer, Mary Higby and Zheng, Wenxia and Moyer, Alison E. and Sjövall, Peter and Lindgren, Johan}},
  issn         = {{1932-6203}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{11}},
  number       = {{11}},
  publisher    = {{Public Library of Science (PLoS)}},
  series       = {{PLoS ONE}},
  title        = {{Preservation potential of keratin in deep time}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0206569}},
  doi          = {{10.1371/journal.pone.0206569}},
  volume       = {{13}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}