ESPEYB17 14. The Year in Science and Medicine (1) (16 abstracts)
14.2. The dental proteome of homo antecessor
Welker F , Ramos-Madrigal J , Gutenbrunner P , Mackie M , Tiwary S , Rakownikow Jersie-Christensen R , Chiva C , Dickinson MR , Kuhlwilm M , de Manuel M , Gelabert P , Martinón-Torres M , Margvelashvili A , Arsuaga JL , Carbonell E , Marques-Bonet T , Penkman K , Sabidó E , Cox J , Olsen JV , Lordkipanidze D , Racimo F , Lalueza-Fox C , Bermúdez de Castro JM , Willerslev E & Cappellini E
To read the full abstract: Nature 2020;580:235–238.
These authors applied modern protein analysis to an ancient molar from a male Homo antecessor dated to 772–949 thousand years ago (kya) from the Sierra de Atapuerca in Burgos, Spain and also to dentine and enamel from a Homo erectus dated to 1770 kya. They found that the composition of these proteomes is similar to that of modern humans, including enamel-specific amelogenin, enamelin, ameloblastin, amelotin and the enamel-specific protease matrix metalloproteinase. Indeed, they had modern-like faces with a considerably deep ancestry in the genus Homo, and the cranial morphology of Neanderthals represents a derived form.
Recent developments in the extraction and tandem mass-spectrometric analysis of ancient proteins have made it possible to retrieve phylogenetically informative protein sequences from Early Pleistocene contexts. They show that Homo antecessor is tentatively the last common ancestor of Neanderthals and modern humans and is a close sister lineage to subsequent Middle and Late Pleistocene hominins.
For the first time, we hear of protein analysis by mass spectrometry from an 800 kya and 1770 kya fossilized tooth belonging to the hominin species Homo antecessor. By comparison, the oldest human DNA recovered so far date to ~400 kya. This field is called palaeoproteomics and it enables the reconstruction of human evolution from further back in time than ever before. Using palaeoproteomics, they determine the sequence of amino acids within protein remains and compare the ancient protein sequences to those of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. The results suggest that Homo antecessor was a sister group to Homo sapiens, who first appeared ~400 kya, Neanderthals, who split from modern humans between 180-800 kya, and Denisovans, who diverged from modern humans and Neanderthals between 780-1,300 kya. Homo antecessor was the last common ancestor to modern humans and Neanderthals. His facial features were very similar to those of Homo sapiens and the Neanderthals.
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ESPE Yearbook of Paediatric Endocrinology
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