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Aspartic acid racemisation in purified elastin from arteries as basis for age estimation

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Abstract

Aspartic acid racemisation (AAR) results in an age-dependent accumulation of d-aspartic acid in durable human proteins and can be used as a basis for age estimation. Routinely, age estimation based on AAR is performed by analysis of dentine. However, in forensic practise, teeth are not always available. Non-dental tissues for age estimation may be suitable for age estimation based on AAR if they contain durable proteins that can be purified and analysed. Elastin is such a durable protein. To clarify if purified elastin from arteries is a suitable sample for biochemical age estimation, AAR was determined in purified elastin from arteries from individuals of known age (n = 68 individuals, including n = 15 putrefied corpses), considering the influence of different stages of atherosclerosis and putrefaction on the AAR values. AAR was found to increase with age. The relationship between AAR and age was good enough to serve as basis for age estimation, but worse than known from dentinal proteins. Intravital and post-mortem degradation of elastin may have a moderate effect on the AAR values. Age estimation based on AAR in purified elastin from arteries may be a valuable additional tool in the identification of unidentified cadavers, especially in cases where other methods cannot be applied (e.g., no available teeth and body parts).

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Notes

  1. In proteins, the so-called racemisation of aspartic acid involves both aspargine and aspartic acid that decompose via a succimide ring to the same four residues, namely l-aspartyl, d-aspartyl, l-isoaspartyl, and d-isoaspartyl residues, all of which are in chemical equilibrium via the succimide ring (for overview, see [24]). Asparingyl, aspartyl, isoaspartyl, and succinimidyl residues are all converted to free aspartic acid during acid hydrolysis, a preparative step in chromatographic amino acid analysis for biochemical age estimation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany

    R. C. Dobberstein, S.-M. Tung & S. Ritz-Timme

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  1. R. C. Dobberstein
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  2. S.-M. Tung
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  3. S. Ritz-Timme
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Correspondence to R. C. Dobberstein.

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Dobberstein, R.C., Tung, SM. & Ritz-Timme, S. Aspartic acid racemisation in purified elastin from arteries as basis for age estimation. Int J Legal Med 124, 269–275 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-009-0392-1

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