Molecular and Cellular Aspects of Chitin Synthesis in Larval Artemia

摘要: The cuticle of Artemia and other crustaceans contains chitin which is covalently attached to protein[1–3]. While the role such proteins in structural support seems clear, possible functions biosynthesis are not obvious. Recent work my laboratory has indicated that synthesize a oligosaccharide via dolichol-linked intermediate[4]. Subsequent transfer oligosaccharides either endogenous polypeptides or synthetic peptide acceptors[5] yields chitoprotein may serve as substrate for synthetase, enzyme responsible polymerization macromolecular chitin[6]. However, pathway synthesis this material within crustacean epithelial cell clear; one notion synthesized rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), moves Golgi apparatus (where synthetase presumably located) serves primer molecule yielding chitin-protein complex. mechanism whereby product exported outside apical membrane incorporated into growing known.