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Amino Acid Racemization - a Guide to Dental Age Estimation


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1 Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Sardar Patel Post Graduate Institute of Dental & Medical Sciences, Lucknow 226 025, India
     

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Amino acid racemization is a process by which there is an inter-conversion of amino acids which are the building blocks of proteins from one chiral form (Levo - form) to a mixture of Levo and Dextro forms following protein degradation. The increase in the proportion of Dextro amino acids can be used as the tool for estimating the age of an individual. Amino acid racemization is best preferred to be done on aspartic acid and the most preferred tooth for this process is second molar. In amino acid racemization, amino acids are separated into their Dextro and Levo forms by various methods but the most preferred technique is High Profile Liquid Chromatography.

Keywords

Racemization, Amino Acids, Age Estimation
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  • Amino Acid Racemization - a Guide to Dental Age Estimation

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Authors

Priyanka Singh
Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Sardar Patel Post Graduate Institute of Dental & Medical Sciences, Lucknow 226 025, India
T. S. Bastian
Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Sardar Patel Post Graduate Institute of Dental & Medical Sciences, Lucknow 226 025, India
Anil Singh
Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Sardar Patel Post Graduate Institute of Dental & Medical Sciences, Lucknow 226 025, India
Rohit Jaiswal
Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Sardar Patel Post Graduate Institute of Dental & Medical Sciences, Lucknow 226 025, India

Abstract


Amino acid racemization is a process by which there is an inter-conversion of amino acids which are the building blocks of proteins from one chiral form (Levo - form) to a mixture of Levo and Dextro forms following protein degradation. The increase in the proportion of Dextro amino acids can be used as the tool for estimating the age of an individual. Amino acid racemization is best preferred to be done on aspartic acid and the most preferred tooth for this process is second molar. In amino acid racemization, amino acids are separated into their Dextro and Levo forms by various methods but the most preferred technique is High Profile Liquid Chromatography.

Keywords


Racemization, Amino Acids, Age Estimation

References