Hair Proteome Variation at Different Body Locations on Genetically Variant Peptide Detection for Protein-Based Human...

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Proteomics
• Human Identification

Background:

• Human hair DNA is often degraded, limiting its use in forensics and archaeology.
• Proteins are abundant and persistent in hair, offering an alternative for identification.
• Genetically variant peptides (GVPs) in hair proteins can reflect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess proteomic variation in head, arm, and pubic hair.
• To identify body location-invariant GVP markers for individual identification.
• To evaluate the potential of hair proteomics for forensic investigations.

Main Methods:

• High-resolution tandem mass spectrometry was used to detect GVP markers in hair proteomes.
• Protein profiles were compared across different body locations (head, arm, pubic).
• GVP profiles were compared with 8 SNPs to assess individual variation and consistency.

Main Results:

• Protein profiles showed body location-specific variations, particularly in keratin-associated and intracellular proteins.
• Key GVP markers were found in keratins, which did not show body location-specific differential expression.
• GVP profiles demonstrated high intraindividual consistency and significant interindividual variation.

Conclusions:

• Hair proteomics, using GVP markers, can identify individuals irrespective of hair's body location.
• This protein-based approach offers a viable alternative to DNA analysis for human identification from hair.
• The findings support the use of hair proteomic variation for forensic and archaeological applications.