Journal article
Molecular evidence of keratin and melanosomes in feathers of the Early Cretaceous bird Eoconfuciusornis
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS, v 113(49), pp E7900-E7907
21 Nov 2016
PMID: 27872291
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Abstract
We report fossil evidence of feather structural protein (beta-keratin) from a 130-My-old basal bird (
Eoconfuciusornis
) from the famous Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota, which has produced many feathered dinosaurs, early birds, and mammals. Multiple independent molecular analyses of both microbodies and associated matrix recovered from the fossil feathers confirm that these microbodies are indeed melanosomes. We use transmission electron microscopy and immunogold to show localized binding of antibodies raised against feather protein to matrix filaments within these ancient feathers. Our work sheds new light on molecular constituents of tissues preserved in fossils.
Microbodies associated with feathers of both nonavian dinosaurs and early birds were first identified as bacteria but have been reinterpreted as melanosomes. Whereas melanosomes in modern feathers are always surrounded by and embedded in keratin, melanosomes embedded in keratin in fossils has not been demonstrated. Here we provide multiple independent molecular analyses of both microbodies and the associated matrix recovered from feathers of a new specimen of the basal bird
Eoconfuciusornis
from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota of China. Our work represents the oldest ultrastructural and immunological recognition of avian beta-keratin from an Early Cretaceous (∼130-Ma) bird. We apply immunogold to identify protein epitopes at high resolution, by localizing antibody–antigen complexes to specific fossil ultrastructures. Retention of original keratinous proteins in the matrix surrounding electron-opaque microbodies supports their assignment as melanosomes and adds to the criteria employable to distinguish melanosomes from microbial bodies. Our work sheds new light on molecular preservation within normally labile tissues preserved in fossils.
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Details
- Title
- Molecular evidence of keratin and melanosomes in feathers of the Early Cretaceous bird Eoconfuciusornis
- Creators
- Yanhong Pan - Nanjing Institute of Geology and PalaeontologyWenxia Zheng - North Carolina State UniversityAlison E. Moyer - North Carolina State UniversityJingmai K. O’Connor - Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and PaleoanthropologyMin Wang - Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and PaleoanthropologyXiaoting Zheng - Linyi UniversityXiaoli Wang - Linyi UniversityElena R. Schroeter - North Carolina State UniversityZhonghe Zhou - Chinese Academy of sciencesMary H. Schweitzer - North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
- Publication Details
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS, v 113(49), pp E7900-E7907
- Series
- PNAS Plus
- Publisher
- National Academy of Sciences
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Biology
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000389536700004
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85002213800
- Other Identifier
- 991019168487504721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Multidisciplinary Sciences