Chitin the epidermal cuticle of a vertebrate (Paralipophrys trigloides, Blenniidae, Teleostei)
Abstract
Lectin binding, endo-chitinase binding and enzymatic degradation studies show that the epidermal Cuticle of the bony fish Paralipophrys trigloides (Blenniidae) is chitinous. This is the first evidence that a vertebrate species possesses a chitinous tissue. Recently a Xenopus gene has been identified which has significant sequence similarity to the catalytic domain of yeast chitin synthase III, a chitin producing enzyme1,2. Talcen together these two findings imply that chitin synthesis capability may be a basic vertebrate feature.
This paper has been withdrawn.