title: First application of a protein-based approach for time since death estimation.
abstract: Awareness of postmortem degradation processes in a human body is fundamental to develop methods for forensic time since death estimation (TDE). Currently, applied approaches are all more or less limited to certain postmortem phases, or have restrictions on behalf of circumstances of death. Novel techniques, however, rarely exceed basic research phases due to various reasons. We report the first application of a novel method, based on decay of muscle proteins, in a recent case of murder-suicide, where other TDE methods failed to obtain data. We detected considerably different protein degradation profiles in both individuals involved and compared the data to our presently available database. We obtained statistical evidence for un-simultaneous death and therefore received valuable information to trace the progression of events based on protein degradation. Although we could not sensibly convert the data to respective times of death, this case highlights the potential for future application and elucidates the necessary further steps to develop a viable TDE method.
authors: Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstr. 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria. stefan.pittner@sbg.ac.at.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Pittner
authors: Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstr. 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
authors: Bianca
authors: B
authors: Ehrenfellner
authors: Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstr. 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Zissler
authors: Department of Mathematics, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstr. 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Racher
authors: Department of Mathematics, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstr. 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Trutschnig
authors: Department of Mathematics, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstr. 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
authors: Arne C
authors: AC
authors: Bathke
authors: Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstr. 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
authors: Alexandra M
authors: AM
authors: Sänger
authors: Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstr. 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
authors: Walter
authors: W
authors: Stoiber
authors: Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstr. 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Steinbacher
authors: Department of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Neuropsychiatry, University of Salzburg, Ignaz-Harrer-Straße 79, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
authors: Fabio C
authors: FC
authors: Monticelli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002154:Calpain / Q000378:metabolism; D003893:Desmin / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D059748:Proteolysis; D013405:Suicide; D014335:Tropomyosin / Q000378:metabolism; D020107:Troponin T / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003893:Desmin; D014335:Tropomyosin; D020107:Troponin T; D002154:Calpain
keywords: Case; Degradation; Method; Muscle; Postmortem interval (PMI); Protein; Time of death