Fungin

/ˈfʌndʒɪn/ noun

Definition

A protein or carbohydrate substance that is characteristic of or derived from fungi.

Etymology

From Latin fungus + -in (a chemical suffix for substances), created to name fungus-derived compounds in biochemistry. This term emerged in 19th-century fungal chemistry and pharmacology.

Kelly Says

Fungin is chemically similar to chitin, the same material that makes up insect exoskeletons—fungi and insects share this molecular building block because they're distantly related in the tree of life.

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