Microbially-Induced Promotion of Amino Acid Racemization in Bone: Isolation of the Microorganisms and the Detection of Their Enzymes

Recent work on the Spitalfields population has shown that the age at death determination using the S/R (L/D) enantiomeric ratios of aspartic acid in the tooth collagen gives rise to discrepancies from the expected results. It has been suggested that the cause of these discrepancies is microbiologica...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of archaeological science 1993-03, Vol.20 (2), p.159-168
Main Authors: Child, A.M., Gillard, R.D., Pollard, A.M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bone Decomposition, Racemization, Microbial Isolation, Enzyme Detection
Environmental studies
Fauna
Methodology and general studies
Prehistory and protohistory
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Summary:Recent work on the Spitalfields population has shown that the age at death determination using the S/R (L/D) enantiomeric ratios of aspartic acid in the tooth collagen gives rise to discrepancies from the expected results. It has been suggested that the cause of these discrepancies is microbiological. A large number of microorganisms able to use tooth and bone proteins have been isolated and identified, and enzymes which will alter tooth and bone proteins have been detected in some of them.
ISSN:0305-4403
1095-9238
DOI:10.1006/jasc.1993.1011