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The Racemization Rate Constant for Protein-Bound Aspartic Acid in Woodrat Middens

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Michael G. Petit
Michael G. Petit*
Affiliation:
Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521. USA
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Abstract

The racemization rate constant for aspartic acid has been determined from the D/L isomeric ratio in four strata of radiocarbon dated woodrat midden in Arizona. Two different methods of stereospecifically deaminating L-aspartic acid prior to the assay are compared. It is found that pure L-amino acid oxidase pretreatment of the DL aspartic acid mixture requires one less step than treatment with crude, dialyzed venom (Crotalus viridis) but that the two methods give the same results. Application of the theory of amino acid racemization dating is discussed in the context of the steric properties ofthe protein environment in which the racemization actually occurs.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 4 , Issue 3 , September 1974 , pp. 340 - 345
Copyright
University of Washington

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