[Age determination using peptide mapping of non-collagenous proteins in human dentin]

The submitted paper deals with possibilities of assessment of human age based on findings of stereospecific breakdown of proteins containing D-forms of aspartic acid. The stereospecificity of enzymatic breakdown assumes that after enzymatic hydrolysis peptide breakdown products with different molecular weights--the so-called peptide map--will be formed, depending how many D-aspartyl residues the protein contains. The authors proved in the submitted preliminary study in subjects of different age the formation of breakdown products of different size in non-collagenous proteins of human dentin which was hydrolyzed by protease V8 from Staphylococcus aureus.