[Degradation of biomolecules: a comparative study of diagenesis of DNA and proteins in human bone tissue].

Abstract

Diagenesis of macromolecules is a not yet fully understood process that can be important for anthropological and forensic research. Trying to elucidate the diagenesis of DNA and proteins we investigated the process of fragmentation of DNA and razemisation of aspartic acid in human bone material. We created an in vitro-model of accelerated aging by incubating bone samples in hot water. A comparison of diagenesis of molecules in those artificially aged samples with altogether 30 historical bones from different regions and of different ages was carried out. The in vitro-model showed the expected positive correlation between the increase of razemisation of aspartic acid and DNA fragmentation, while there was a much lesser correlation when investigating historical bones. The in vitro-model showed the expected correlation between the increase of razemisation of aspartic acid and DNA fragmentation and to a much lesser extent in historical bones. This study shows that diagenesis is probably influenced by additional forces affecting different macromolecules in different ways.