ABSTRACT
Due to the mineral matrix bone proteins are capable of surviving during centuries after inhumation, but cross-linking with other bone proteins as well as fragmentation and complex reactions with humic acids and microorganisms lead to considerable alterations in molecular weight and structure of these proteins. Our group concentrates on polymorphic plasma proteins which diffuse out of the capillary system into the bone matrix where they adsorb to the mineralic substrate. So far, only little is known about the degradation and alteration of these proteins in fossil bones. It has to be evaluated whether the aged proteins still contain some of the information which renders them a valuable tool for forensic questions and population genetics in recent populations. Therefore we tried by modification of already existing methods to expand plasma protein identification and subtyping into the new field of aged plasma proteins.
Subject(s)
Archaeology , Blood Proteins/history , Bone and Bones/chemistry , Paleopathology , Adult , Blood Proteins/analysis , Fossils , History, 15th Century , History, Ancient , History, Medieval , Humans , PeruABSTRACT
In this report, methodical bases for the molecular genetic analysis of the three common apolipoprotein E alleles APOE*2, APOE*3 and APOE*4 in DNA isolated from ancient human skeletal remains are described. Considering that ancient DNA target regions for amplification are generally quite small, the detection method is based on short amplification products in the range from 71 bp to 75 bp. The applicability of the modified method for APOE genotyping was examined in modern human DNA samples.
Subject(s)
Apolipoproteins E/history , Genetics, Population , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Polymorphism, Genetic/genetics , DNA/history , History, Ancient , Humans , Paleodontology , PeruABSTRACT
Apolipoprotein E (apoE, protein; APOE, gene) is a component of very low density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein and plays an important role in lipoprotein metabolism. There are three common alleles of APOE (*2, *3, and *4), which encode the E2, E3, and E4 isoforms of the protein. Distribution of apoE isoforms shows marked variation among various ethnic groups. Direct phenotyping of human APOE in plasma was used to estimate APOE allele frequencies in 137 unrelated blood donors from 3 regions of Poland. The relative frequencies observed for the APOE*2, APOE*3, and APOE*4 alleles were 0.055, 0.839, and 0.106, respectively. The data have been compared with data found in other population groups. The frequency of the APOE*2 allele in Poles was among the lowest in Europe.
Subject(s)
Apolipoproteins E/genetics , Gene Frequency , Adult , Alleles , Apolipoproteins E/blood , Europe , Female , Humans , Male , Phenotype , Poland , Reference Values , White People/geneticsABSTRACT
The analysis of non-mineralbound, non-collagenous proteins from ancient Peruvian human bones with electrophoretical methods, SDS-polyacrylamide-electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing, results in molecular weight bands on the one hand and a pH-gradient distribution on the other hand, which are perhaps connected with polymorphic serum proteins. A specific protein identification is possible with immunological methods.
Subject(s)
Blood Proteins/history , Bone and Bones/chemistry , Blood Protein Electrophoresis , Blood Proteins/analysis , History, Ancient , Humans , Isoelectric Focusing , Molecular Weight , Paleopathology , PeruABSTRACT
Phenotype and gene frequencies of three blood group, four serum protein and seven red cell enzyme polymorphisms were examined in 105 individuals from the population of Medzev, South-Eastern Slovakia. Locus and allele specific tests of homogeneity were calculated in order to obtain the pattern of variation. The results indicate considerable genetic differences between this population and another local population of this region (Chmelnica) as well as between the Medzev population and the total population of Slovakia. The possible reasons of the genetic heterogeneity within Slovakia are discussed.
Subject(s)
Blood Group Antigens , Genetic Markers , Analysis of Variance , Erythrocytes/enzymology , Female , Gene Frequency , Humans , Male , Phenotype , Polymorphism, Genetic , Population Surveillance , SlovakiaABSTRACT
HP, GC and PI polymorphisms have been typed on 16 Central Indian tribal populations with a total of 1658 individuals. The distribution of allele frequencies shows a statistically highly significant heterogeneity, which may be caused by several microevolutionary factors, such as genetic drift, social and geographic isolation. Some new variants were observed in both the GC system (GC 2Cmah) and in the PI system (PI Yori). The PI variants are more frequent and are found in most of the 16 populations under study whereas the GC variants are rather infrequent and restricted to only three populations.
