In a recent article published in Nature cryo-EM structures of chitin synthase 1 from Phytophthora sojae (PsChs1) are presented in the apo, GlcNAc-bound, nascent chitin oligomer-bound, UDP-bound (post-synthesis) and chitin synthase inhibitor nikkomycin Z-bound states of the enzyme, providing detailed views into the multiple steps of chitin biosynthesis and its competitive inhibition.

Chen W, Cao P, Liu Y, Yu A, Wang D, Chen L, Sundarraj R., Yucchi Z., Merzendorfer H., Yang Q. (2022) Structural basis for directional chitin biosynthesis. Nature, doi: 10.1038/s41586-022-05244-5.