The amino acids of bone and dentine collagens in pleistocene mammals

Abstract

1. 1. The studies of fourteen samples of fossil collagens from mammals and seven samples of modern mammalian collagens show that the fossil collagen usually has more glycine, less leucine, phenylalanine, tyrosine and amide nitrogen, and small amounts of ornithine. 2. 2. In comparison with the modern relatives of the fossils studied, the extinct short-faced bear has more lysine and less hydroxylysine; the extinct western horse has a slightly higher amount of hydroxyproline; the fossil camel has lower amounts of lysine and serine. 3. 3. The amino acid compositions of the fossil collagens of the extinct browsing ground sloth, dire wolf, fossil coyote, lion-like cat and extinct ancient bison are similar to those of their living relatives. 4. 4. Dentinal collagens from the extinct western horse and the browsing ground sloth have more hydroxylysine and less lysine than those in the bone collagens from the same species.