Distinct cellular and molecular mechanisms contribute to the specificity of the two Drosophila melanogaster chitin synthases in chitin deposition.

ABSTRACT: Chitin is a major component of arthropod extracellular matrices, including the exoskeleton and the midgut peritrophic matrix. It plays a key role in the development, growth and viability of insects. Beyond the biological importance of this aminopolysaccharide, chitin also receives considerable attention for its practical applications in medicine and biotechnology, as it is a superior biopolymer with excellent physicochemical and mechanical properties. Chitin is synthesised and deposited extracellularly by chitin synthases. Most insects encode two types of chitin synthases: type A, which are presumed to be required for exoskeleton formation, and type B, which are thought to produce the peritrophic matrix. However, the factors that contribute to the specificity of each type of chitin synthas

SUBMITTER: Bertran-Mas J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12431666 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature