Decomposition of Chitin by Chytriomyces Species

Aquatic Fungi

“…However, their saprophytic capabilities and related carbon turnover rates have not been quantified, yet. Some Chytridiomycetes can utilise a range of organic polymers such as glucose, starch, sucrose, cellobiose, chitin and cellulose (Gleason et al, 2011;Reisert & Fuller, 1962) whereas others possess incomplete enzymatic degradation pathways suggesting a possible complementation through other microbes. Many active Chytridiomycetes often occur sporadically in flooded mud of the riparian zone and submerged sediments and form a very different Chytridiomycetes flora compared to that of soils of the catchment area (Willoughby, 1961).…”

Physiology of microbial degradation of chitin and chitosan

“…These fungi characteristically have inducible chitinolytic systems (Sivan & Chet 1989). Baiting of freshwater sites with chitin yields a range of chitinolytic fungi, interesting members of which are the chytrids, such as Chytriomyces species (Reisert & Fuller 1962), and Karlingia astereocysta, which has a nutritional requirement for chitin that can only be relieved by N-acetylglucosamine; i.e. it is an 'obligate chitinophile' (Murray & Lovett 1966).…”

Deepwater Program: Studies of Gulf of Mexico lower continental slope communities related to chemosynthetic and hard substrate habitats

“…Marine-occurring fungi are found in mangroves, driftwood, shallow sediments, algae, coral (Hyde and others, 1998), and in deep-sea sediments (Damare and others, 2006). Fungi facilitate the decomposition of wood as well as lignin, chitin, and keratin (Reisert and Fuller, 1962;Kohlmeyer, 1972) and form marine lichens through symbiotic relationships with algae (Grube and Blaha, 2005). Until recently, only five species of fungi were reported from the deep sea (Kohlmeyer and Kohlmeyer, 1979;Hawksworth, 2001).…”