Evidence for chitin synthesis in an insect cell line

Abstract

Abstract Cells from the continuous MRRL‐CH line derived from embryos of the tobacco hornworm synthesized chitin. Digestion of the washed pellet from [ 14 C]‐N‐acetylglucosamine‐labeled cells by chitinase yielded a water‐soluble labeled compound. The lyophilized residue from the supernatant of the chitin digestion was analyzed by gas‐liquid chromatography as its trimethylsilyl derivative. The major component cochromatographed with derivitized chitobiose. The presence of chitobiose was confirmed by gas chro‐matography‐mass spectrometry. The synthesis of chitin by this cell line is inhibited by diflubenzuron.