The chitin secreting system from deep sea hydrothermal vent worms

Abstract

Deep-sea hydrothermal vent worms live in tubes made of giant f~-chitin crystallites (50 nm in diameter, several gm in length) embedded in a protein matrix. These chitin crystallites form a liquid-crystal-like structure differing from the wellknown cholesteric arrangement of classical chitin-protein systems. Furthermore, and in contrast with the latter systems, the vestimentiferan chitin-protein systems are produced by goatskin-shaped glands. Rod-shaped elements in the lumen of these glands were identified by DCTEM and Au-WGA labeling and freeze fracture as chitin crystallites. The main characteristics of these "chitin secreting glands" are described.

Common trends in mutualism revealed by model associations between invertebrates and bacteria: Table 1

“…The authors predicted that this mucus is derived from the chitin-secreting pyriform glands (Gaill et al , 1992; Shillito et al , 1995; Chamoy et al , 2001). In another deep-sea hydrothermal vent marine chemosynthetic mutualism, epibiotic bacteria adhere to the chitinous surfaces of Kiwa hirsuta Yeti crabs (Goffredi et al , 2008).…”

Poriferan Chitin as a Versatile Template for Extreme Biomimetics

“…Moreover, α-chitin identified within the holdfast of endemic freshwater sponge Lubomirska baicalensis plays a major role in the adhesion of sponges to rocky substrate [68]. In contrast, β-chitins are usually found in organisms where both flexibility and toughness are required [2]; for example in squid pens [99] or tube worms [33]. Interestingly, all three polymorphs has been indicated within different parts of the Loligo sp.…”

“…In R. pachyptila many microfibrils or crystallites of β-chitin are embedded in parallel within a protein matrix, and together form flat ribbon like structures [33]. A stabilization process using the disulfide bonds of the protein-chitin link seems to be the basis of this interaction, rather than the crystalline form of the chitin.…”

A Novel Chitin-binding Protein from the Vestimentiferan Riftia pachyptila Interacts Specifically with β-Chitin

“…Such a restricted distribution of the RCBP mRNA is somewhat surprising, since it is generally admitted that the chitinsecreting glands are the site of tube components secretion (4,6,10,43). Putative protein material linked to chitin microfibrils has been observed at the ultrastructural level in these tissues, i.e.…”

“…The giant vestimentiferan worm R. pachyptila (up to 2 meters in length), found around the deep sea hydrothermal vents (6), inhabits a tube which is made of ␤-chitin associated with proteins (7)(8)(9). Previous studies on R. pachyptila have shown that large ␤-chitin secreting glands (present in all the four main regions of the animal except obturaculum) were involved in the tube wall production (10,11).…”