MS-based proteomics in Cultural Heritage

The impressive increase of performance and versatility of the mass spectrometry-instrumentation has brought to expand the applications of proteomics to new fields, such as the so-called “palaeoproteomics”. Archaeological protein residues can inform us about the production, use, state, and preservation of material, evolutionary and ecological divergences, dietary habits, and past cultures. Samples in cultural heritage are extremely valuable and in low quantity. Furthermore, they present a high risk of contamination and degradation. This PhD thesis aimed to 1) develop and optimize simple protocols for the extraction and identification of the proteins from peculiar materials such as pottery, artifacts with pesticides, and biological remains; 2) apply a non-invasive technique to the analysis of very old biological tissues such as various remains of mammoth fossils; 3) develop an innovative data analysis approach via metaproteomics; 4) investigate about diagenetic effects and chemical damages to discriminate original identification from contaminants.