Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
Int J Legal Med. 2010 Jul;124(4):269-75. doi: 10.1007/s00414-009-0392-1. Epub 2009 Nov 19.
Aspartic acid racemisation (AAR) results in an age-dependent accumulation of D: -aspartic acid in durable human proteins and can be used as a basis for age estimation. Routinely, age estimation based on AAR is performed by analysis of dentine. However, in forensic practise, teeth are not always available. Non-dental tissues for age estimation may be suitable for age estimation based on AAR if they contain durable proteins that can be purified and analysed. Elastin is such a durable protein. To clarify if purified elastin from arteries is a suitable sample for biochemical age estimation, AAR was determined in purified elastin from arteries from individuals of known age (n = 68 individuals, including n = 15 putrefied corpses), considering the influence of different stages of atherosclerosis and putrefaction on the AAR values. AAR was found to increase with age. The relationship between AAR and age was good enough to serve as basis for age estimation, but worse than known from dentinal proteins. Intravital and post-mortem degradation of elastin may have a moderate effect on the AAR values. Age estimation based on AAR in purified elastin from arteries may be a valuable additional tool in the identification of unidentified cadavers, especially in cases where other methods cannot be applied (e.g., no available teeth and body parts).
天冬氨酸外消旋化（AAR）导致 D：-天冬氨酸在持久的人类蛋白质中随年龄的积累，可作为年龄估计的基础。通常，基于 AAR 的年龄估计是通过牙本质分析来进行的。然而，在法医学实践中，牙齿并不总是可用的。如果非牙齿组织中含有可纯化和分析的持久蛋白质，则可能适合基于 AAR 的年龄估计。弹性蛋白就是这样一种持久的蛋白质。为了阐明从动脉中纯化的弹性蛋白是否是基于 AAR 的生物化学年龄估计的合适样本，在已知年龄的个体（包括 n = 15 具腐败尸体的 n = 68 个人）的动脉中纯化的弹性蛋白中确定了 AAR，考虑了动脉粥样硬化和腐败的不同阶段对 AAR 值的影响。发现 AAR 随年龄的增长而增加。AAR 与年龄之间的关系足以作为年龄估计的基础，但不如牙本质蛋白所知的好。弹性蛋白的活体和死后降解可能对 AAR 值有中等影响。基于动脉中纯化弹性蛋白的 AAR 进行年龄估计可能是识别身份不明尸体的有用补充工具，尤其是在其他方法无法应用的情况下（例如，没有可用的牙齿和身体部位）。
