Study of Saiga Horn Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

The saiga horns have been investigated the using of modern analytic methods. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with mass-spectrometric (MS and MS/MS) detection and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) were used. It could be concluded that basic proteins of the saiga horns are keratins and collagen. The basic representation protein in all samples is keratin type I microfibrillar (from sheep), keratin type II microfibrillar (from sheep), collagen type I (α 1) (from bovine) and collagen type I (α 2) (from bovine). Free amino acids we determined in all samples are nontreated by enzyme.

Identification of short‐chain poly‐3‐hydroxybutyrates in Saiga horn extracts using LC–MS/MS

“…The results of this study also confirmed that collagens (α1, type I and α2, type I) and keratins (type I cuticular, type I microfibrillar, type I cytoskeletal, type II cuticular, type II microfibrillar and type II cytoskeletal) are the main constituents of Saiga horn as we previously reported in another study, which was performed on an ion-trap mass spectrometer [15]. In addition to that, we have now been able to identify two other proteins -collagen α1, type III and macrophage migration inhibitory factor.…”

“…LC–MS/MS analysis of Saiga horn extracts confirmed that the main components are keratin type I microfibrillar, keratin type II microfibrillar and collagen type I (α1 and α2 chains) .…”

Characterisation of novel α‐keratin peptide markers for species identification in keratinous tissues using mass spectrometry

“…In horn (but not baleen and porcupine), cytoskeletal keratins are detected but few keratin‐associated proteins are (in wool up to 13 cytoskeletal keratins, and 36 KAPs can be found). Cytoskeletal keratins had also been detected in the horn of Saiga . Separation by two‐dimensional (2D) gels conducted at AgResearch on rhinoceros horn showed a lower abundance of proteins in the KAPs area compared to wool fibres (unpublished data).…”

Available sustainable alternatives replace endangered animal horn based on their proteomic analysis and bio-effect evaluation

“…However, with increasing human population and demand, illegal hunting has led to drastic reductions in rhinoceros and Saiga antelope populations in recent decades3. Even though five species of rhinoceros are listed as endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)45, the law seems to have done little to save these species, and the African rhinoceros population has declined from 65,000 to less than 3500 over the last 40 years.…”

“…Similarly, a place on Appendix II of the CITES list for the Saiga antelope failed to protect this species, and the population has fallen drastically from 1 million in the 1980s to only 25,000 in 2000. This species was placed on the endangered species list in 200134.…”