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Evidence of proteins, chromosomes and chemical markers of DNA in exceptionally preserved dinosaur cartilage

Bailleul, Alida M. ; Zheng, Wenxia ; Horner, John R. ; Hall, Brian K. ; Holliday, Casey M. and Schweitzer, Mary H. LU (2020) In National Science Review 7(4). p.815-822
Abstract

A histological ground-section from a duck-billed dinosaur nestling (Hypacrosaurus stebingeri) revealed microstructures morphologically consistent with nuclei and chromosomes in cells within calcified cartilage. We hypothesized that this exceptional cellular preservation extended to the molecular level and had molecular features in common with extant avian cartilage. Histochemical and immunological evidence supports in situ preservation of extracellular matrix components found in extant cartilage, including glycosaminoglycans and collagen type II. Furthermore, isolated Hypacrosaurus chondrocytes react positively with two DNA intercalating stains. Specific DNA staining is only observed inside the isolated cells, suggesting endogenous... (More)

A histological ground-section from a duck-billed dinosaur nestling (Hypacrosaurus stebingeri) revealed microstructures morphologically consistent with nuclei and chromosomes in cells within calcified cartilage. We hypothesized that this exceptional cellular preservation extended to the molecular level and had molecular features in common with extant avian cartilage. Histochemical and immunological evidence supports in situ preservation of extracellular matrix components found in extant cartilage, including glycosaminoglycans and collagen type II. Furthermore, isolated Hypacrosaurus chondrocytes react positively with two DNA intercalating stains. Specific DNA staining is only observed inside the isolated cells, suggesting endogenous nuclear material survived fossilization. Our data support the hypothesis that calcified cartilage is preserved at the molecular level in this Mesozoic material, and suggest that remnants of once-living chondrocytes, including their DNA, may preserve for millions of years.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Cartilage, Chromosomes, Collagen II, Dinosaur, DNA markers, Nuclei
in
National Science Review
volume
7
issue
4
pages
8 pages
publisher
Oxford University Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:85102024398
ISSN
2095-5138
DOI
10.1093/NSR/NWZ206
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
cd475301-5307-4251-af19-904e3eae1e63
date added to LUP
2021-03-23 07:12:21
date last changed
2022-04-27 00:53:56
@article{cd475301-5307-4251-af19-904e3eae1e63,
  abstract     = {{<p>A histological ground-section from a duck-billed dinosaur nestling (Hypacrosaurus stebingeri) revealed microstructures morphologically consistent with nuclei and chromosomes in cells within calcified cartilage. We hypothesized that this exceptional cellular preservation extended to the molecular level and had molecular features in common with extant avian cartilage. Histochemical and immunological evidence supports in situ preservation of extracellular matrix components found in extant cartilage, including glycosaminoglycans and collagen type II. Furthermore, isolated Hypacrosaurus chondrocytes react positively with two DNA intercalating stains. Specific DNA staining is only observed inside the isolated cells, suggesting endogenous nuclear material survived fossilization. Our data support the hypothesis that calcified cartilage is preserved at the molecular level in this Mesozoic material, and suggest that remnants of once-living chondrocytes, including their DNA, may preserve for millions of years.</p>}},
  author       = {{Bailleul, Alida M. and Zheng, Wenxia and Horner, John R. and Hall, Brian K. and Holliday, Casey M. and Schweitzer, Mary H.}},
  issn         = {{2095-5138}},
  keywords     = {{Cartilage; Chromosomes; Collagen II; Dinosaur; DNA markers; Nuclei}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{815--822}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{National Science Review}},
  title        = {{Evidence of proteins, chromosomes and chemical markers of DNA in exceptionally preserved dinosaur cartilage}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/NSR/NWZ206}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/NSR/NWZ206}},
  volume       = {{7}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}