Biomolecular characterization and protein sequences of the Campanian hadrosaur B. canadensis

Science. 2009 May 1;324(5927):626-31. doi: 10.1126/science.1165069.

Abstract

Molecular preservation in non-avian dinosaurs is controversial. We present multiple lines of evidence that endogenous proteinaceous material is preserved in bone fragments and soft tissues from an 80-million-year-old Campanian hadrosaur, Brachylophosaurus canadensis [Museum of the Rockies (MOR) 2598]. Microstructural and immunological data are consistent with preservation of multiple bone matrix and vessel proteins, and phylogenetic analyses of Brachylophosaurus collagen sequenced by mass spectrometry robustly support the bird-dinosaur clade, consistent with an endogenous source for these collagen peptides. These data complement earlier results from Tyrannosaurus rex (MOR 1125) and confirm that molecular preservation in Cretaceous dinosaurs is not a unique event.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Birds / classification
  • Bone Demineralization Technique
  • Bone Matrix / chemistry
  • Collagen / analysis
  • Collagen / chemistry*
  • Collagen / isolation & purification
  • Dinosaurs* / classification
  • Elastin / analysis
  • Femur / blood supply
  • Femur / chemistry*
  • Femur / ultrastructure
  • Fossils*
  • Hemoglobins / analysis
  • Immunologic Techniques
  • Laminin / analysis
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Osteocytes / ultrastructure
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Peptide Fragments / isolation & purification
  • Phylogeny
  • Proteins / analysis
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Sequence Alignment

Substances

  • Hemoglobins
  • Laminin
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Proteins
  • Collagen
  • Elastin