130
P. W. KENT
ment, no less than connective and osseous tissues of vertebrates, cannot
be considered to be a static structure. The composition of macromolecular constituents varies not only from one species to another, but also in
terms of the age of the animal. Arguments concerning the possibility of
collagen being characteristic of one form of skeletal structure and chitin
of another are at least premature since they consider final compositions
and overlook the antecedent developmental steps and the spectrum of
enzymatic changes involved, some perhaps inducible, and the biosynthetic control mechanism at subcellular levels.
In evolutionary terms (10) the biosynthesis of amino sugars and their
incorporation appears to be common to bacteria and animals, although
outside the fungi it is rarely encountered in plants. The quantitative
climax of this biochemical feature is reached in the invertebrates in
relation to chitin and exoskeletal structures. In higher animals, though
still important in development of connective tissue and bone, it is a
minor pathway of carbohydrate metabolism.
References
1. C. Hachett, Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. London pp. 315-334 (1799).
2. A. Odier, Mem. soc. hist. not. Paris 1, 29-42 (1823).
3. J. G. Children, Zool. J. 1, 101-115 (1825).
4. R. H. Hackman, Australian J. Biol. Set. 13, 568-577 (1960).
5. P. Kraft, Zentr. Mineral pp. 285-288 (1923).
6. E. Abderhalden and K. Heynes, Biochem. Z. 259, 320-321 (1933).
7. D. R. Rome, Bull, musee roy. hist. nat. Belg. (Brussels) 12(31), 1-7 (1936).
8. Κ. H. Meyer, "Natural and Synthetic High Polymers." Wiley (Interscience),
New York, 1942.
9. R. L. Whistler and C. E. Smart, "Polysaccharide Chemistry." Academic Press,
New York, 1953.
10. P. W. Kent and M. W. Whitehouse, "Biochemistry of the Ammo-Sugars."
Butterworths, London, 1955.
11. A. B. Foster and J. M. Webber, Advances in Carbohydrate Chem. 15, 371-393
(1960).
12. A. G. Richards, "The Integument of Arthropods/' Univ. of Minnesota Press,
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1951.
12a. Κ. M. Rudall, Advances in Insect Physiol 1, 257-313 (1963).
13. A. G. Richards, Ergeb. Biol. 20, 1-26 (1958).
14. V. B. Wigglesworth, Quart. Microscop. Sei. 76, 269-318 (1933).
15. L. E. R. Picken, "The Organization of Cells.
,, Oxford Univ. Press, London and
New York, 1960.
16. D. A. L. Davies, Advances in Carbohydrate Chem. 15, 271-340 (1960).
17. G. Blix, Proc. 4th Intern. Congr. Biochem., Vienna Vol. 1, pp. 94-105 (1958).
18. A. Gottschalk, "The Chemistry and Biology of Sialic Acids and Related Substances." Cambridge Univ. Press, London and New York, 1960.
19. F. Zilliken and M. W. Whitehouse, Advances in Carbohydrate Chem. 13, 237263 (1958).
P. W. KENT
ment, no less than connective and osseous tissues of vertebrates, cannot
be considered to be a static structure. The composition of macromolecular constituents varies not only from one species to another, but also in
terms of the age of the animal. Arguments concerning the possibility of
collagen being characteristic of one form of skeletal structure and chitin
of another are at least premature since they consider final compositions
and overlook the antecedent developmental steps and the spectrum of
enzymatic changes involved, some perhaps inducible, and the biosynthetic control mechanism at subcellular levels.
In evolutionary terms (10) the biosynthesis of amino sugars and their
incorporation appears to be common to bacteria and animals, although
outside the fungi it is rarely encountered in plants. The quantitative
climax of this biochemical feature is reached in the invertebrates in
relation to chitin and exoskeletal structures. In higher animals, though
still important in development of connective tissue and bone, it is a
minor pathway of carbohydrate metabolism.
References
1. C. Hachett, Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. London pp. 315-334 (1799).
2. A. Odier, Mem. soc. hist. not. Paris 1, 29-42 (1823).
3. J. G. Children, Zool. J. 1, 101-115 (1825).
4. R. H. Hackman, Australian J. Biol. Set. 13, 568-577 (1960).
5. P. Kraft, Zentr. Mineral pp. 285-288 (1923).
6. E. Abderhalden and K. Heynes, Biochem. Z. 259, 320-321 (1933).
7. D. R. Rome, Bull, musee roy. hist. nat. Belg. (Brussels) 12(31), 1-7 (1936).
8. Κ. H. Meyer, "Natural and Synthetic High Polymers." Wiley (Interscience),
New York, 1942.
9. R. L. Whistler and C. E. Smart, "Polysaccharide Chemistry." Academic Press,
New York, 1953.
10. P. W. Kent and M. W. Whitehouse, "Biochemistry of the Ammo-Sugars."
Butterworths, London, 1955.
11. A. B. Foster and J. M. Webber, Advances in Carbohydrate Chem. 15, 371-393
(1960).
12. A. G. Richards, "The Integument of Arthropods/' Univ. of Minnesota Press,
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1951.
12a. Κ. M. Rudall, Advances in Insect Physiol 1, 257-313 (1963).
13. A. G. Richards, Ergeb. Biol. 20, 1-26 (1958).
14. V. B. Wigglesworth, Quart. Microscop. Sei. 76, 269-318 (1933).
15. L. E. R. Picken, "The Organization of Cells.
,, Oxford Univ. Press, London and
New York, 1960.
16. D. A. L. Davies, Advances in Carbohydrate Chem. 15, 271-340 (1960).
17. G. Blix, Proc. 4th Intern. Congr. Biochem., Vienna Vol. 1, pp. 94-105 (1958).
18. A. Gottschalk, "The Chemistry and Biology of Sialic Acids and Related Substances." Cambridge Univ. Press, London and New York, 1960.
19. F. Zilliken and M. W. Whitehouse, Advances in Carbohydrate Chem. 13, 237263 (1958).