摘要 巨猿是中国南方更新世特有的大型猿类,因其巨大的牙齿和颌骨被认为是迄今生活在地球上体型最大的猿类。迄今为止,年代学和生物地层学证据显示巨猿的生存年代2~0.3 MaBP。由于中新世晚期—上新世时期化石记录的缺失,有关巨猿的起源和演化一直存在诸多争论。2019年,《自然》杂志报道广西吹风洞早更新世早期(1.9 MaBP)巨猿牙齿化石的古蛋白质研究~([1])。结果显示,巨猿牙齿牙釉质中保存了较为丰富的古代蛋白质,这些古蛋白质由409个特有的肽组成,分属6个内源性蛋白。对这些古老蛋白质的研究表明,巨猿在系统发育上属于猩猩分支系统,大约从10~12 MaBP前分化出来并独立演化。这是在亚热带地区的化石中首次提取如此古老的分子证据,提示古蛋白质研究有望为探索早期物种(包括人类)起源与演化提供重要依据。本文将简要回顾巨猿系统演化研究的历史,并对利用古蛋白技术分析巨猿的演化地位进行评述。 Gigantopithecus blacki is the largest hominoid that ever lived in southern China during Pleistocene epoch.based on its highly specialized dentognathic anatomy,especially extremely large dentition and mandible size,this giant species is estimated to have a body mass of at least 200 kg.So far,chronological and biostratigraphic evidences indicate that G.blacki occupation ranged from 2 MaBP to 0.3 MaBP.The origins and evolution of this animal are controversial for long time,due to the absence of geological fossil record in late Miocene to Pliocene.In Nature(2019)we reported a proteome study on tooth enamel of G.blacki in Chuifeng cave of early Pleistocene(1.9 MaBP)in Bubing Basin,southern China[1].We identified no endogenous proteins from the dentine,but instead recovered an ancient enamel proteome composed of 409 unique peptides matching 6 endogenous proteins.We demonstrate that G.blacki is a sister clade to orangutans(genus Pongo)with a common ancestor about 12~10 MaBP.This is the first time that molecular evidence is retrieved from such ancient fossil in the subtropical region,further suggesting that the study of ancient proteins will provide strong support for the exploration of the origin and evolution of extinct species,including hominins.In addition,this paper will also briefly review the history of phylogenetic and divergence discussion of Gigantopithecus and introduce the proceeding of the ancient proteins study.
机构地区 山东大学文化遗产研究院
出处 《人类学学报》 CSSCI CSCD 北大核心 2020年第4期717-726,共10页 Acta Anthropologica Sinica
基金 国家自然科学基金(41572023) 广西壮族自治区“八桂学者”项目。
关键词 巨猿 古蛋白质 早更新世 吹风洞 布兵盆地 Gigantopithecus blacki Ancient proteins Early Pleistocene Chuifeng Cave Bubing Basin
