Localization of Chitin in Demineralized Skeletons

In order to evaluate the localization of chitin in the demineralized skeleton of A. wolffgangi and E. gibbosa, Calcofluor White (Fluorescent Brightener M2R, Sigma) was used as a fluorescent dye for staining of β-(1→3) and β-(1→4) linked polysaccharides [31 (link),49 –52 (link)]. After binding to polysaccharides containing β-glycosidic bond, such as chitin, this flourochrome emits a bright blue light under UV excitation even using very short light exposure time (up to 1/1000 s) Selected fragments of demineralized skeletons of A. wolffgangi and E. gibbosa were placed in 0.1 M KOH-glycerine-water solution and few drops of 0.1% solutions of CFW were added and the mixture was placed in darkness for 60 min. Afterwards, the stained skeletons were rinsed 5 times with deionized water and dried at room temperature followed by investigation of the scaffolds under fluorescence microscopy.