Abstract. Lectin binding, endo-chitinase binding and enzymatic degradation studies show that the epidermal cuticle of the bony fish Paralipophrys trigloides (Blenniidae) is chitinous. This is the first evidence that a vertebrate 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 enzyme ~,2. Taken together these two findings imply that chitin synthesis capability may be a basic vertebrate feature.

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