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chitin

A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition | 2005 | Copyright

chitin The organic matrix of the hard parts of the exoskeleton of insects and crustaceans, and present in small amounts in mushrooms. It is an insoluble and indigestible non‐starch polysaccharide, similar to cellulose, but composed of N‐acetylglucosamine units rather than glucose. Partial deacetylation results in the formation of chitosans.

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DAVID A. BENDER. "chitin." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 9 Feb. 2010 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DAVID A. BENDER. "chitin." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 9, 2010). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-chitin.html

DAVID A. BENDER. "chitin." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Retrieved February 09, 2010 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-chitin.html

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