Chitin pleomorphism in the cellulosic cell wall fungusSaprolegnia

The presence of α chitin in hyphal walls and regenerating protoplast walls of the cellulosic fungus Saprolegnia monoica has been demonstrated by biophysical analyses. In hyphal walls, chitin appeared as globular particles while in protoplast walls chitin had a microfibrillar structure. Chitin synthesized in vitro by partially purified soluble chitin synthase appeared as spindle-like particles. This variation of morphology may reflect the structural role played by crystalline chitin during morphogenesis.