OCCURRENCE OF CHITIN IN SPORE WALL OF GLUGEA-WEISSENBERGI

Spores of the microsporidian Glugea weissenbergi were subjected to acid hydrolysis and analyzed by means of ascending paper chromatography in order to determine the sugar content of the spore wall. A single spot was obtained and found to have a mobility similar to that of glucosamine in three different solvent systems. When the spore-wall hydrolyzate was treated with ninhydrin in aqueous pryidine, the degradation product was found to be arabinose. Arabinose is the oxidation product of glucosamine which in turn is the chief product of the acid hydrolysis of chitin. By a comparatively simple but sensitive technique the spore wall of this particular species is shown to contain chitin. The possible significance of this structural component is discussed with regard to filament eversion and spore viability. © 1969.