Characterization of tongue worm (Pentastomida) chitin supports α-rather than β-chitin

In this study, we extracted high-quality chitin from the pentastomid, Leiperia cincinnalis, and carried out diagnostic analyses. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and ThermoGravimetric Analysis (TGA) demonstrated the conspicuous features of α-chitin but not β-chitin. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the cuticle of the anterior part of a specimen revealed nanofibres organized largely in a parallel configuration and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of isolated cuticular chitin exhibited well-defined chitin bundles, these observations being more consistent with the known characteristics of α-chitin. Collectively, our analyses demonstrate the clear existence of α-chitin in a pentastomid and clarify a contentious issue using modern methods of analysis.
Source: A Journal of Comparative Zoology - Category: Zoology Source Type: research