chemistry question #2427

Wilma de leon, a 15 year old female from Philippines asks on December 12, 2004,

Q:

What is the reaction between a chitin--the polysaccharide intermediate between protein and carbohydrates which can be found in the exoskeleton of crustaceans and arthropods--and cholesterol?
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the answer

Peter Fankboner answered on December 20, 2004, A:

There is no direct reaction between arthropod exoskeleton (chitin) and cholesterol, although there may be reactions between some derivatives of these two materials.  Indeed, the exoskeleton of Arthropoda MUST be non-reactive to most materials in nature or else it would not protect the creature it covers.

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