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Essays in Biochemistry Sep 2019Animals (metazoans) include some of the most complex living organisms on Earth, with regard to their multicellularity, numbers of differentiated cell types, and... (Review)
Review
Animals (metazoans) include some of the most complex living organisms on Earth, with regard to their multicellularity, numbers of differentiated cell types, and lifecycles. The metazoan extracellular matrix (ECM) is well-known to have major roles in the development of tissues during embryogenesis and in maintaining homoeostasis throughout life, yet insight into the ECM proteins which may have contributed to the transition from unicellular eukaryotes to multicellular animals remains sparse. Recent phylogenetic studies place either ctenophores or poriferans as the closest modern relatives of the earliest emerging metazoans. Here, we review the literature and representative genomic and transcriptomic databases for evidence of ECM and ECM-affiliated components known to be conserved in bilaterians, that are also present in ctenophores and/or poriferans. Whereas an extensive set of related proteins are identifiable in poriferans, there is a strikingly lack of conservation in ctenophores. From this perspective, much remains to be learnt about the composition of ctenophore mesoglea. The principal ECM-related proteins conserved between ctenophores, poriferans, and bilaterians include collagen IV, laminin-like proteins, thrombospondin superfamily members, integrins, membrane-associated proteoglycans, and tissue transglutaminase. These are candidates for a putative ancestral ECM that may have contributed to the emergence of the metazoans.
Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Biological Evolution; Ctenophora; Extracellular Matrix; Extracellular Matrix Proteins; Genomics; Porifera; Protein Domains; Proteome; Transcriptome
PubMed: 31444229
DOI: 10.1042/EBC20180048 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2021Marine invertebrates have been reported to be an excellent resource of many novel bioactive compounds. Studies reported that Indonesia has remarkable yet underexplored... (Review)
Review
Marine invertebrates have been reported to be an excellent resource of many novel bioactive compounds. Studies reported that Indonesia has remarkable yet underexplored marine natural products, with a high chemical diversity and a broad spectrum of biological activities. This review discusses recent updates on the exploration of marine natural products from Indonesian marine invertebrates (i.e., sponges, tunicates, and soft corals) throughout 2007-2020. This paper summarizes the structural diversity and biological function of the bioactive compounds isolated from Indonesian marine invertebrates as antimicrobial, antifungal, anticancer, and antiviral, while also presenting the opportunity for further investigation of novel compounds derived from Indonesian marine invertebrates.
Topics: Alkaloids; Animals; Anthozoa; Anti-Infective Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Aquatic Organisms; Biological Products; Humans; Peptides; Polyketides; Porifera; Secondary Metabolism; Structure-Activity Relationship; Terpenes; Urochordata
PubMed: 33801617
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26071898 -
FEMS Microbiology Ecology Nov 2019Efficient nutrient cycles mediated by symbiotic microorganisms with their hosts are vital to support the high productivity of coral reef ecosystems. In these ecosystems,... (Review)
Review
Efficient nutrient cycles mediated by symbiotic microorganisms with their hosts are vital to support the high productivity of coral reef ecosystems. In these ecosystems, marine sponges are important habitat-forming organisms in the benthic community and harbor abundant microbial symbionts. However, few studies have reviewed the critical microbially mediated nutrient cycling processes in marine sponges. To bridge this gap, in this review article, we summarize existing knowledge and recent advances in understanding microbially mediated carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S) cycles in sponges, propose a conceptual model that describes potential interactions and constraints in the major nutrient cycles, and suggest that shifting redox state induced by animal behavior like sponge pumping can exert great influence on the activities of symbiotic microbial communities. Constraints include the lack of knowledge on spatial and temporal variations and host behavior; more studies are needed in these areas. Sponge microbiomes may have a significant impact on the nutrient cycles in the world's coral reef ecosystems.
Topics: Animals; Carbon; Coral Reefs; Microbiota; Nitrogen; Nutrients; Phosphorus; Porifera; Sulfur; Symbiosis; Water Microbiology
PubMed: 31589314
DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiz155 -
BMC Biology Jun 2023Explaining the emergence of the hallmarks of bilaterians is a central focus of evolutionary developmental biology-evodevo-and evolutionary genomics. For this purpose, we...
BACKGROUND
Explaining the emergence of the hallmarks of bilaterians is a central focus of evolutionary developmental biology-evodevo-and evolutionary genomics. For this purpose, we must both expand and also refine our knowledge of non-bilaterian genomes, especially by studying early branching animals, in particular those in the metazoan phylum Porifera.
RESULTS
We present a comprehensive analysis of the first whole genome of a glass sponge, Oopsacas minuta, a member of the Hexactinellida. Studying this class of sponge is evolutionary relevant because it differs from the three other Porifera classes in terms of development, tissue organization, ecology, and physiology. Although O. minuta does not exhibit drastic body simplifications, its genome is among the smallest of animal genomes sequenced so far, and surprisingly lacks several metazoan core genes (including Wnt and several key transcription factors). Our study also provides the complete genome of a symbiotic Archaea dominating the associated microbial community: a new Thaumarchaeota species.
CONCLUSIONS
The genome of the glass sponge O. minuta differs from all other available sponge genomes by its compactness and smaller number of encoded proteins. The unexpected loss of numerous genes previously considered ancestral and pivotal for metazoan morphogenetic processes most likely reflects the peculiar syncytial tissue organization in this group. Our work further documents the importance of convergence during animal evolution, with multiple convergent evolution of septate-like junctions, electrical-signaling and multiciliated cells in metazoans.
Topics: Animals; Genome; Porifera; Genomics; Transcription Factors; Signal Transduction; Phylogeny
PubMed: 37337252
DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01619-w -
Marine Drugs Aug 2021Marine sponges are the most prolific marine sources for discovery of novel bioactive compounds. Sponge secondary metabolites are sought-after for their potential in... (Review)
Review
Marine sponges are the most prolific marine sources for discovery of novel bioactive compounds. Sponge secondary metabolites are sought-after for their potential in pharmaceutical applications, and in the past, they were also used as taxonomic markers alongside the difficult and homoplasy-prone sponge morphology for species delineation (chemotaxonomy). The understanding of phylogenetic distribution and distinctiveness of metabolites to sponge lineages is pivotal to reveal pathways and evolution of compound production in sponges. This benefits the discovery rate and yield of bioprospecting for novel marine natural products by identifying lineages with high potential of being new sources of valuable sponge compounds. In this review, we summarize the current biochemical data on sponges and compare the metabolite distribution against a sponge phylogeny. We assess compound specificity to lineages, potential convergences, and suitability as diagnostic phylogenetic markers. Our study finds compound distribution corroborating current (molecular) phylogenetic hypotheses, which include yet unaccepted polyphyly of several demosponge orders and families. Likewise, several compounds and compound groups display a high degree of lineage specificity, which suggests homologous biosynthetic pathways among their taxa, which identifies yet unstudied species of this lineage as promising bioprospecting targets.
Topics: Animals; Aquatic Organisms; Humans; Phylogeny; Phytotherapy; Porifera
PubMed: 34436287
DOI: 10.3390/md19080448 -
Nature Jun 2024Sponges are the most basal metazoan phylum and may have played important roles in modulating the redox architecture of Neoproterozoic oceans. Although molecular clocks...
Sponges are the most basal metazoan phylum and may have played important roles in modulating the redox architecture of Neoproterozoic oceans. Although molecular clocks predict that sponges diverged in the Neoproterozoic era, their fossils have not been unequivocally demonstrated before the Cambrian period, possibly because Precambrian sponges were aspiculate and non-biomineralized. Here we describe a late-Ediacaran fossil, Helicolocellus cantori gen. et sp. nov., from the Dengying Formation (around 551-539 million years ago) of South China. This fossil is reconstructed as a large, stemmed benthic organism with a goblet-shaped body more than 0.4 m in height, with a body wall consisting of at least three orders of nested grids defined by quadrate fields, resembling a Cantor dust fractal pattern. The resulting lattice is interpreted as an organic skeleton comprising orthogonally arranged cruciform elements, architecturally similar to some hexactinellid sponges, although the latter are built with biomineralized spicules. A Bayesian phylogenetic analysis resolves H. cantori as a crown-group sponge related to the Hexactinellida. H. cantori confirms that sponges diverged and existed in the Precambrian as non-biomineralizing animals with an organic skeleton. Considering that siliceous biomineralization may have evolved independently among sponge classes, we question the validity of biomineralized spicules as a necessary criterion for the identification of Precambrian sponge fossils.
Topics: Animals; Bayes Theorem; China; Fossils; Phylogeny; Porifera
PubMed: 38839967
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07520-y -
Chemical Biology & Drug Design Jan 2022In recent years, biological macromolecules have piqued the interest of researchers owing to their vast variety of biological uses. As a result, the marine sponge is a... (Review)
Review
In recent years, biological macromolecules have piqued the interest of researchers owing to their vast variety of biological uses. As a result, the marine sponge is a multicellular heterotrophic parazoan with chemicals for defence against predator assaults, biofouling and microbial diseases. These priceless molecules are known as secondary metabolites, and they are essential for survival in a highly competitive environment. So far, over 5,000 marine natural compounds have been extracted from marine sponges, making them an excellent option for drug formulation. One among them is, aaptamine, a marine alkaloid with a benzo[de][1,6]-napthyridine framework extensively distributed in marine sponges. Due to this reason, aaptamine has been intensively researched for various biological purposes, including cancer and protease inhibition, offering fresh insights into novel treatments. Keeping this in mind, we reviewed the biological significance of the marine sponge alkaloid aaptamine.
Topics: Alkaloids; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Antioxidants; Antiviral Agents; Cell Proliferation; HIV-1; Naphthyridines; Porifera
PubMed: 34331335
DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.13932 -
PloS One 2023Class Demospongiae is the largest in the phylum Porifera (Sponges) and encompasses nearly 8,000 accepted species in three subclasses: Keratosa, Verongimorpha, and...
Class Demospongiae is the largest in the phylum Porifera (Sponges) and encompasses nearly 8,000 accepted species in three subclasses: Keratosa, Verongimorpha, and Heteroscleromorpha. Subclass Heteroscleromorpha contains ∼90% of demosponge species and is subdivided into 17 orders. The higher level classification of demosponges underwent major revision as the result of nearly three decades of molecular studies. However, because most of the previous molecular work only utilized partial data from a small number of nuclear and mitochondrial (mt) genes, this classification scheme needs to be tested by larger datasets. Here we compiled a mt dataset for 136 demosponge species-including 64 complete or nearly complete and six partial mt-genome sequences determined or assembled for this study-and used it to test phylogenetic relationships among Demospongiae in general and Heteroscleromorpha in particular. We also investigated the phylogenetic position of Myceliospongia araneosa, a highly unusual demosponge without spicules and spongin fibers, currently classified as Demospongiae incertae sedis, for which molecular data were not available. Our results support the previously inferred sister-group relationship between Heteroscleromorpha and Keratosa + Verongimorpha and suggest five main clades within Heteroscleromorpha: Clade C0 composed of order Haplosclerida; Clade C1 composed of Scopalinida, Sphaerocladina, and Spongillida; Clade C2 composed of Axinellida, Biemnida, Bubarida; Clade C3 composed of Tetractinellida; and Clade C4 composed of Agelasida, Clionaida, Desmacellida, Merliida, Suberitida, Poecilosclerida, Polymastiida, and Tethyida. The inferred relationships among these clades were (C0(C1(C2(C3+C4)))). Analysis of molecular data from M. araneosa placed it in the C3 clade as a sister taxon to the highly skeletonized tetractinellids Microscleroderma sp. and Leiodermatium sp. Molecular clock analysis dated divergences among the major clades in Heteroscleromorpha from the Cambrian to the Early Silurian, the origins of most heteroscleromorph orders in the middle Paleozoic, and the most basal splits within these orders around the Paleozoic to Mesozoic transition. Overall, the results of this study are mostly congruent with the accepted classification of Heteroscleromorpha, but add temporal perspective and new resolution to phylogenetic relationships within this subclass.
Topics: Animals; Phylogeny; Porifera; Genes, Mitochondrial; Genome, Mitochondrial
PubMed: 38048310
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287281 -
Marine Drugs Jan 2021Marine sponges are exceptionally prolific sources of natural products for the discovery and development of new drugs. Until now, sponges have contributed around 30% of... (Review)
Review
Marine sponges are exceptionally prolific sources of natural products for the discovery and development of new drugs. Until now, sponges have contributed around 30% of all natural metabolites isolated from the marine environment. Family Latrunculiidae Topsent, 1922 (class Demospongiae Sollas, 1885, order Poecilosclerida Topsent, 1928) is a small sponge family comprising seven genera. Latrunculid sponges are recognized as the major reservoirs of diverse types of pyrroloiminoquinone-type alkaloids, with a myriad of biological activities, in particular, cytotoxicity, fuelling their exploration for anticancer drug discovery. Almost 100 pyrroloiminoquinone alkaloids and their structurally related compounds have been reported from the family Latrunculiidae. The systematics of latrunculid sponges has had a complex history, however it is now well understood. The pyrroloiminoquinone alkaloids have provided important chemotaxonomic characters for this sponge family. Latrunculid sponges have been reported to contain other types of metabolites, such as peptides (callipeltins), norditerpenes and norsesterpenes (trunculins) and macrolides (latrunculins), however, the sponges containing latrunculins and trunculins have been transferred to other sponge families. This review highlights a comprehensive literature survey spanning from the first chemical investigation of a New Zealand sp. in 1986 until August 2020, focusing on the chemical diversity and biological activities of secondary metabolites reported from the family Latrunculiidae. The biosynthetic (microbial) origin and the taxonomic significance of pyrroloiminoquinone related alkaloids are also discussed.
Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Biological Products; Drug Discovery; Humans; Molecular Structure; Porifera
PubMed: 33435402
DOI: 10.3390/md19010027 -
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters Jan 2023Natural products have been the most important sources of chemically diverse raw materials that have inspired pharmaceutical discoveries over the past few decades. Many... (Review)
Review
Natural products have been the most important sources of chemically diverse raw materials that have inspired pharmaceutical discoveries over the past few decades. Many pharmaceutical companies are utilizing plant extracts to develop relatively crude therapeutic formulations. The interesting chemicals identified as natural products are derived from the phenomenon of biodiversity, where the interactions between the organisms and their environment formulate the diverse and complex chemical entities within them that enhance their survival and competitiveness. Marine sponges are rich sources of natural products and have provided an infinite supply of bioactive metabolites. Bromopyrrole alkaloids are a good example of marine metabolites, have a broad range of biological activity, and represent a fascinating example of chemical diversity of secondary metabolites elaborated by marine invertebrates. The isolation and synthesis of this structural class have been investigated, resulting in a series of bromopyrrole alkaloids with potential lead hits. This review presents the detailed isolation and anticancer activity of marine bromopyrrole alkaloids, and will be of interest to the wider research community both in academic and industrial settings.
Topics: Animals; Porifera; Alkaloids; Aquatic Organisms; Antineoplastic Agents; Biological Products; Pharmaceutical Preparations
PubMed: 36496202
DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2022.129102