Chitin Structure and Biosynthesis

Chitin is a key component of insect cuticles and peritrophic matrices. This biopolymer, second after cellulose in abundance, consists of polymerized N- acetylglucosamine and plays a crucial role in insect physiology. The chitin biosynthetic pathway involves chitin synthase (CHS) an attractive molecular target for insect-specific insecticides, which has been extensively studied, leading to the identification of different CHS forms and their tissue-specific roles. In addition to the chemical insecticides discussed in Chapters 38.2 and 38.3, natural products such as polyoxin D and nikkomycin Z have shown promise as chitin synthesis inhibitors, providing potential starting points for insect pest management.