Electron diffraction and electron microscopy of crystalline α-chitin from the grasping spines of the marine worm Sagitta

Abstract

A highly crystalline form of α-chitin found in the grasping spines of the marine worm Sagitta has been examined using electron microscopy and electron diffraction. Sections cut parallel to the (100) planes show Bragg diffraction peaks out to spacings of less than 0.1 nm. The results are compared with previously reported results from α-chitin obtained from deproteinized lobster tendom.