E. Cohen
1987
Citations
8
Influential Citations
152
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Annual Review of Entomology
Abstract
Chitin is an amino-sugar polysaccharide that serves as a supporting element in extracellular structures, notably in exoskeletons of arthropods (91) and cell walls of various fungi (88). Chitin is prevalent in invertebrates (43, 105) and is found in certain diatom algae (45). In insects, this biopolymer is a major carbohydrate component of chito-protein complexes such as the cuticle and the peritrophic membrane (1, 92, 100, 105). Taking into consideration the global biomass of arthropods, particularly the zooplankton, polymerization of N-acetyl-o-glucosamine into chitin is a major synthetic event, second only to cellulose production. Synthesis of chitin involves concerted multifaceted cellular activities starting from biotrans formations of simple metabolites and culminating in the emergence of a polymer to be extruded outside cell membranes. Many enzymatic and nonenzymatic parts of this intricate process are still poorly described. In formation regarding the mechanism of polymerization and its regulation in insect (18,60,65,66) and fungal (10, 35, 37,88, 106, 120) systems has only recently started to emerge. Future studies on the role of insect hormones coupled with in-depth investigations using various types of inhibitors that interfere with chitin synthesis will shed light on these inadequately understood events. In particular, inhibitors will be instrumental in chemical microsurgery for elucidation of the polymerization step. Information related to subsequent steps such as extrusion of nascent polysaccharides, crystallization, orientation of microfibrils, and attachment of microfibrils to extracellular proteins is incomplete or lacking. Thorough studies should not only address academic curiosity about this fundamental biochemical phenomenon, but should also