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Figure 1 | BMC Structural Biology

Figure 1

From: The structure of mollusc larval shells formed in the presence of the chitin synthase inhibitor Nikkomycin Z

Figure 1

Shell development of Mytilus galloprovincialis larvae under the conditions of the in vivo experiments. The embryos were reared in cultures that were optimized with respect to larval viability, motility, growth, and shell development. a. Representative example for larvae grown in 10 l-culture until the stage of the pediveliger/juvenile adult. Metamorphosis occurred within the expected time frame of 31 days as indicated by the well-developed foot (F) and the vanishing velum (V). The edge (E) and its rim (R) are smooth, the hinge or provinculum (H, framed by dotted lines) is straight-lined, and a dorsal protuberance, the so-called umbo (U) is observed as in previous developmental stages (veliger larva). b. Scanning electron microscopy image of a shell extracted from a well developed larva at the age of 19 days, previously grown in 40 ml-culture for 11 days. Note the smooth surface of the shell and the regular growth lines (arrowheads).

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