The chitin secreting system from deep sea hydrothermal vent worms

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Summary— Deep‐sea hydrothermal vent worms livé in tubes made of giant β‐chitin crystallites (50 nm in diameter, several μm in length) embedded in a protein matrix. These chitin cyrstallites 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.