HEИндивидуална стипендия2023–2025

PROMISE · Proteomic optimization of methods for ancient skeletal elements

„Хоризонт Европа“ — Действия „Мария Склодовска-Кюри“

Период: 2023-12-01 → 2025-11-30
Финансиране от ЕС: 214 934 €
Участници: 2
Схема: HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF

Линиите свързват координатора с партньорите.

Накратко на български

Протеините в древни кости и зъби от плейстоценската епоха се анализират чрез подобряване на методите за тяхното извличане. Това помага за по-доброто разбиране на еволюцията и екологията на изгубени видове хора и други организми.

Този кратък обзор е генериран от изкуствен интелект

Кратко обяснение, генерирано от езиков модел по текста на CORDIS. Оригиналът е по-долу.

Резултати накратко

Proteomic optimization of methods for ancient skeletal elements

The PROMISE fellowship aimed to improve methods for the study of skeletal proteomes from the Pleistocene and thereafter apply these methods to archaeological sites in the Levant. Palaeoproteomic analyses can allow for the study of evolution and ecology of past organisms, including extinct hominins. These analyses are, however, complicated by the fact that the studied objects have been buried for a long time, and occasionally stored for a long time after excavation, thereby being covered by contamination from various sources. Additionally, the proteins are slowly degrading and accumulating damage over time. The field of palaeoproteomics is relatively new, and as such, methods to analyse these ancient, degraded, and contaminated proteomes are still in their infancy. PROMISE had three main objectives to address these issues for Pleistocene bones and teeth: 1) Optimising methods for protein extraction, 2) Investigating the effects of microbial attack on the proteome, and 3) Application of gained knowledge and developed methods to Levantine archaeological specimens, an area which is challenging to study due to protein degradation, albeit essential for understanding the evolution of our species. Together, the objectives aimed to significantly advance the field of palaeoproteomics, as the methods, approaches and gained knowledge can be applied to a wider range of palaeoproteomic research contexts.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз

Цел на проекта

Palaeoproteomics has the potential to resolve some of the big questions in palaeoanthropology and human evolution, as proteins have been found to preserve over long time periods in the archaeological record, and contain phylogenetically relevant information. However, as this is a relatively new field of research, method optimization and gaining further understanding of ancient proteomes is necessary, to gain robust and reliable results with minimal destruction to rare ancient fossils. To this end, PROMISE (PRoteomic Optimization of Methods for ancIent Skeletal Elements) aims to improve palaeoproteomic analyses by developing and thoroughly assessing methods for removing modern contamination from ancient specimens, releasing proteins from the mineral matrix of bones and teeth, and understanding the effect that postmortem microbial bioerosion has on ancient skeletal proteomes. Finally, these optimised methods will be applied to study Middle and Late Pleistocene Levantine hominins. The Levant is essential for understanding human migration out of Africa, as well as interactions between different contemporaneous hominin populations, but is a challenging area of study for ancient DNA, warranting further palaeoproteomic method development. PROMISE will advance methods for the entire field of palaeoproteomics, as well as the study of human evolution. PROMISE will be conducted in a dynamic international research environment, providing the fellow with essential skills setting them up for a successful future career as a researcher in archaeological science.

Оригинален текст от CORDIS (на английски).

Участници

KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET · KOBENHAVNКоординаторДания
TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY · Tel AvivИзраел