Proteins isotopic composition

Hare, P.E., Fogel, ML., Stafford, T.W. Jr., Mitchell, A.D. and Hoering, T.C. 1991 The isotopic composition of carbon and nitrogen in individual amino acids isolated from modern and fossil proteins. Journal of Archaeological Science 18 227-292. 

This paper will address three subjects a) carbon isotopic composition of bone carbonate b) the possible role of hpid metabolism in determining frae-tionation between bone carbonate and collagen and its apparent trophic signature and c) concepts of routing of carbon isotopes in the body, especially from protein foods to collagen. The discussion will be limited to carbon isotope ratios C C/ C), although we appreciate that N/ N ratios, which are also very useful in determining trophic levels and somces of protein, present similar biochemical problems. 

Paleodiet studies have focused on the analysis of collagen, due to its ability to survive in ancient bone. Like all proteins, collagen is composed of amino acid (AA) units present in relatively constant proportions characteristic of the specific protein. The isotopic composition of a sample of collagen is the weighted average of the 5 C values of each of the constituent amino acids. 

Figure 10.2. Schematic diagram showing how restricted conversion of fatty acids to amino acids influences the fractionation between collagen and CO3 of bone apatite LI = lipid component, PR = protein, T = total isotopic composition AP = COj component of apatite, a) Herbivorous diet (Cj plants only) b) Carnivorous diet, assuming rj = 1 (no barrier to fatty acid conversion to AAs) c) Carnivorous diet, assuming ri < 1 note that carbonate-collagen fractionation is smaller.

Figure 10.4. Effect on apatite-collagen isotopic fractionation due to inhibition of amino acid production and preferred use of exogenous amino acids. Carnivore and herbivore, both based on C3 plants, have similar bulk isotopic composition of total edible tissues (T), leading to similar 5 C for apatite carbonate (AP). Collagen (CO) of carnivore is more enriched in Cthan that of herbivore, because of preferential utilization of amino acids derived from protein (P) of herbivore flesh in construction of carnivore s proteins. C ss = assimilated carbon.

A DIFF relates a specified body component isotopic composition to the various compositions of a specified and complete set of dietary components. The complete diet must be accounted for in the DIFF, but it can be partitioned in any way that seems sensible for example, into individual amino acids or into protein, carbohydrate and lipid, etc. 

Elgiire 11.3. A flow-model scheme intended to represent relevant nitrogen flows, especially with regard to which flows are reversihle. The labeled reactions 1, 11, 111 IV are all potentially iso-topically fractionating. Because reaction 11 is not reversible, subsequent fractionations in the excretory pathway should not influence the isotopic composition of the body protein pool. 

Figure All.l. A plot of the difference (residuals) between observed collagen 5 C values and values calculated from the DIFF for dp = +5, dn = +2, and f(F) = F , as a function of the dietary protein carbon content. Due to the eombination of eomposition and manipulated isotopic compositions of the different diets, some diets test the predictions of the DIFF more precisely than others. These are represented as squares (the remainder are represented as diamonds). Although the differenee has been minimized, it is not zero. Nevertheless, and especially for the more reliable reetangular points, the differenee is small, for a wide range of diets and collagen 8 values. Other combinations of dp, ds. and 1(F) give greater residuals.

Eleven controlled diet and environment experiments have been designed in a way that can be used to investigate the effects of protein nutrition and heat and/or water stress on diet-tissue A N. Laboratory rats were raised on purified, pelletized diets in which the isotopic composition of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates were well characterized and their proportions accurately and precisely measured (Ambrose and Norr 1993). Four experiments involved manipulation of temperature and/or water availability. Of these four experiments, one used a diet with high (70%) protein concentrations and heat/water stress (36°C) and three used normal (20%) protein concentrations. Seven experiments were conducted at normal temperature (21°C) with water ad libitum. Of these seven experiments, two used diets formulated with veiy low protein (5%), three with normal protein and two with high protein concentrations. 

Schoeninger, M.J. and DeNiro, M.J. 1984 Nitrogen and carbon isotopic composition of bone collagen from marine and terrestrial animals. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 48 625-639. Schuette, S. A., Hegsted, M., Zemel, B. and Linkswiler, H.M. 1981 Renal acid, urinary cyclic AMP, and hydroxyproline excretion as affected by level of protein, sulfur amino acids and phosphorus intake. Journal of Nutrition 111 2106-2116. 

Amino acid synthesis in heterotrophs primarily relies on dietary protein rather than on lipids or carbohydrates (Schwarcz, 2000), and thus the isotopic composition of the resulting new collagen is related more to dietary protein rather than to bulk diet. Trophic... 

The isotopic composition of carbon in the proteins, which are one of the main components of animal tissues, reflects the nature of the food resources in the diet of the animals. Determining the relative abundance of the stable isotopes of carbon in the proteins of bones or hair, for example, can facilitate understanding of the effects that different types of plants or animal food resources had on ancient diets (Katzenberg 2000 Burton 1996). 

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