Evidence for Endogenous Collagen in Edmontosaurus Fossil Bone

• Published in: Analytical chemistry (Washington) Vol. 97; no. 5; pp. 2618 - 2628
• Main Authors: Tuinstra, Lucien, Thomas, Brian, Robinson, Steven, Pawlak, Krzysztof, Elezi, Gazmend, Faull, Kym Francis, Taylor, Stephen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 11.02.2025
• Subjects: Amino acids; analytical chemistry; Animals; Birefringence; Bone and Bones - chemistry; Bone growth; Bones; Chromatography, Liquid; Collagen; Collagen - analysis; Collagen - chemistry; Cretaceous; Cretaceous period; Dinosaurs; Edmontosaurus; Fossils; Hydroxyproline; Hydroxyproline - analysis; Light microscopy; Optical microscopy; peptides; Polarized light; Proteomics; Sacrum; South Dakota; streams; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; South Dakota
• ISSN: 0003-2700; 1520-6882; 1520-6882
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c03115

Reports of proteins in fossilized bones have been a subject of controversy in the scientific literature because it is assumed that fossilization results in the destruction of all organic components. In this paper, a novel combination of analytical techniques is used to address this question for an exceptionally well-preserved Edmontosaurus sacrum excavated from the Upper Cretaceous strata of the South Dakota Hell Creek Formation. Cross-polarized light microscopy (XPol) shows birefringence consistent with collagen presence. Tandem LC-MS unambiguously identified, and for the first time quantified, hydroxyproline, a unique collagen-indicator amino acid, in acid-digested samples from the Edmontosaurus. LC-MS/MS bottom-up proteomics shows identical collagen peptide sequences previously identified and reported for another hadrosaur and a T. rex sample.