[Evaluation of preservation and the collagen structure state in the mummy tissues]

The content and state of collagen in skin, muscle and bone of 2500-year-old Altai mummies were studied. Collagen is the predominant protein in studied tissues of the mummies. High degree of the resistance of collagen to the effect of various proteases (collagenase, pronase, pepsin) and to alkline and acidic hydrolysis suggests on the considerable chemical modification of tissue collagen structures of the mummy. The possibility of increased collagen cross-linkages in tissues of the mummies during long-term storage and of nonenzymatic glycosylation of collagen leading to the formation an Amadori products and other modified structures are discussed.