Chitin Chitin Chitin (CHON) ( ), a long-chain polymer of "N"-acetylglucosamine, is a derivative of glucose. It is a primary component of cell walls in fungi, the exoskeletons of arthropods, such as crustaceans (e.g., crabs, lobsters and shrimps) and insects, the radulae of molluscs, cephalopod beaks, and the scales of fish and lissamphibians. The structure of chitin is comparable to another polysaccharide - cellulose, forming crystalline nanofibrils or whiskers. In terms of function, it may be compared to the protein keratin. Chitin has proved useful for several medicinal, industrial and biotechnological purposes. The English word "chitin" comes from the French word
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor Vitamin D potently induces GDNF expression. Exposure of dopaminergic-like cell line to Ibogaine HCl results in an increase in GDNF mRNA, leading to protein expression and to the corresponding activation of the GDNF signaling pathway. This, in turn, leads to a further increase in the mRNA level of the growth factor through a feed-back loop. It was also found that ibogaine metabolite, noribogaine, also possess the ability to increase GDNF levels. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a protein that, in humans, is encoded by the "GDNF" gene. GDNF is a small protein that potently