CHITIN IN THE EPIDERMAL CUTICLE OF A VERTEBRATE (PARALIPOPHRYS-TRIGLOIDES, BLENNIIDAE, TELEOSTEI)

Lectin binding, endo-chitinase binding and enzymatic degradation studi es show that the epidermal cuticle of the bony fish Paralipophrys trig loides (Blenniidae) is chitinous. This is the first evidence that a ve rtebrate 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 enzy me1,2. Taken together these two findings imply that chitin synthesis c apability may be a basic vertebrate feature.