Proteins can survive up to ten times longer than DNA. From the study of ancient proteins, also known as paleoproteomics, researchers have been able to analyze trace amounts of archaeological proteins to reconstruct the relationships of extinct plants, track the spread of dairy, and characterize immune responses in people long deceased.
As with the early days of genomics, any lapses in rigorous standards, lab contamination, and data artifacts can lead to misinterpretation and false claims. To support researchers, reviewers and editors in this growing field, a research team has published a “best practices" guide in Nature Ecology & Evolution for the sampling, generation, analysis, and reporting of ancient protein sequence data in the scientific literature. This global effort comes from collaborators in Max Planck Institute, University of Copenhagen, the University of York, the University of Turin, the University of Oklahoma and the University of Zürich
"Undoubtedly, as new laboratory and statistical strategies for characterizing proteins emerge, these guidelines will require debate within the community and further updating. However, we hope that the standards of practice presented here will help to provide a firm foundation for palaeoproteomics as a technique for use in a variety of fields," said lead co-author Frido Welker, of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
The authors emphasize an intention to not create rigid, unbendable rules, nor to overturn existing standards, but rather to consolidate and strengthen the field's best practices. A crucial direction stresses that publications must provide adequate details on how data were generated and authenticated, so results can be effectively evaluated.
"Palaeoproteomics holds enormous potential to dramatically expand archaeological, palaeontological and evolutionary research. It is crucial that the discipline hold itself to high standards in order to ensure that it is able to meet this potential," said lead co-author Jessica Hendy, of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.