-
Genes Mar 2021While virtually all animals show certain abilities for regeneration after an injury, these abilities vary greatly among metazoans. Porifera (Sponges) is basal metazoans... (Review)
Review
While virtually all animals show certain abilities for regeneration after an injury, these abilities vary greatly among metazoans. Porifera (Sponges) is basal metazoans characterized by a wide variety of different regenerative processes, including whole-body regeneration (WBR). Considering phylogenetic position and unique body organization, sponges are highly promising models, as they can shed light on the origin and early evolution of regeneration in general and WBR in particular. The present review summarizes available data on the morphogenetic and cellular mechanisms accompanying different types of WBR in sponges. Sponges show a high diversity of WBR, which principally could be divided into (1) WBR from a body fragment and (2) WBR by aggregation of dissociated cells. Sponges belonging to different phylogenetic clades and even to different species and/or differing in the anatomical structure undergo different morphogeneses after similar operations. A common characteristic feature of WBR in sponges is the instability of the main body axis: a change of the organism polarity is described during all types of WBR. The cellular mechanisms of WBR are different across sponge classes, while cell dedifferentiations and transdifferentiations are involved in regeneration processes in all sponges. Data considering molecular regulation of WBR in sponges are extremely scarce. However, the possibility to achieve various types of WBR ensured by common morphogenetic and cellular basis in a single species makes sponges highly accessible for future comprehensive physiological, biochemical, and molecular studies of regeneration processes.
Topics: Animals; Morphogenesis; Porifera; Regeneration; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 33805549
DOI: 10.3390/genes12040506 -
The Keio Journal of Medicine Sep 2004The term Urmetazoa, as the hypothetical metazoan ancestor, was introduced to highlight the finding that all metazoan phyla including the Porifera [sponges] derived from... (Review)
Review
The term Urmetazoa, as the hypothetical metazoan ancestor, was introduced to highlight the finding that all metazoan phyla including the Porifera [sponges] derived from one common ancestor. Analyses of sponge genomes, from Demospongiae, Calcarea and Hexactinellida have permitted the reconstruction of the evolutionary trail from Fungi to Metazoa. This has provided evidence that the characteristic evolutionary novelties of Metazoa existing in Porifera share high sequence similarities and in some aspects also functional similarities to related polypeptides found in other metazoan phyla. It is surprising that the genome of Porifera is large and comprises substantially more genes than Protostomia and Deuterostomia. On the basis of solid taxonomy and ecological data, the high value of this phylum for human application becomes obvious especially with regard to the field of chemical ecology and the hope to find novel potential drugs for clinical use. In addition, the benefit of efforts in understanding molecular biodiversity with focus on sponges can be seen in the fact that these animals as "living fossils" allow to stethoscope into the past of our globe especially with respect to the evolution of Metazoa.
Topics: Animals; Ecology; Evolution, Molecular; Genomics; Porifera
PubMed: 15477729
DOI: 10.2302/kjm.53.159 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2023The article is a comprehensive review concerning tetracyclic triterpene and steroid glycosides from sponges (Porifera, Demospongiae). The extensive oxidative... (Review)
Review
The article is a comprehensive review concerning tetracyclic triterpene and steroid glycosides from sponges (Porifera, Demospongiae). The extensive oxidative transformations of the aglycone and the use of various monosaccharide residues, with up to six possible, are responsible for the significant structural diversity observed in sponge saponins. The saponins are specific for different genera and species but their taxonomic distribution seems to be mosaic in different orders of Demospongiae. Many of the glycosides are membranolytics and possess cytotoxic activity that may be a cause of their anti-predatory activities. All these data reveal the independent origin and parallel evolution of the glycosides in different taxa of the sponges. The information concerning chemical structures, biological activities, biological role, and taxonomic distribution of the sponge glycosides is discussed.
Topics: Animals; Porifera; Triterpenes; Glycosides; Saponins; Steroids
PubMed: 36985476
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28062503 -
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal... Dec 2015Recent phylogenomic evidence suggests that ctenophores may be the sister group to the rest of animals. This phylogenetic arrangement opens the possibility that sponges... (Review)
Review
Recent phylogenomic evidence suggests that ctenophores may be the sister group to the rest of animals. This phylogenetic arrangement opens the possibility that sponges and placozoans could have lost neural cell types or that the ctenophore nervous system evolved independently. We critically review evidence to date that has been put forth in support of independent evolution of neural cell types in ctenophores. We observe a reluctance in the literature to consider a lost nervous system in sponges and placozoans and suggest that this may be due to historical bias and the commonly misconstrued concept of animal complexity. In support of the idea of loss (or modification beyond recognition), we provide hypothetical scenarios to show how sponges and placozoans may have benefitted from the loss and/or modification of their neural cell types.
Topics: Animals; Biological Evolution; Nervous System; Neurons; Placozoa; Porifera
PubMed: 26554046
DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2015.0059 -
Current Biology : CB Feb 2005
Review
Topics: Animals; Biological Evolution; Genome; Porifera
PubMed: 15723776
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2005.02.005 -
Marine Drugs Jun 2021In this review, we discuss structural diversity, taxonomic distribution, biological activities, biogenesis, and synthesis of a rare group of terpenoids, the so-called... (Review)
Review
In this review, we discuss structural diversity, taxonomic distribution, biological activities, biogenesis, and synthesis of a rare group of terpenoids, the so-called malabaricane and isomalabaricane triterpenoids, as well as some compounds derived from them. Representatives of these groups were found in some higher and lower terrestrial plants, as well as in some fungi, and in a relatively small group of marine sponges. The skeletal systems of malabaricanes and isomalabaricanes are similar to each other, but differ principally in the stereochemistry of their tricyclic core fragments, consisting of two six-membered and one five-membered rings. Evolution of these triterpenoids provides variety of rearranged, oxidized, and glycoconjugated products. These natural compounds have attracted a lot of attention for their biosynthetic origin and biological activity, especially for their extremely high cytotoxicity against tumor cells as well as promising neuroprotective properties in nanomolar concentrations.
Topics: Animals; Biosynthetic Pathways; Fungi; Glycoconjugates; Plants; Porifera; Triterpenes
PubMed: 34198756
DOI: 10.3390/md19060327 -
Nature Jun 2023A central question in evolutionary biology is whether sponges or ctenophores (comb jellies) are the sister group to all other animals. These alternative phylogenetic...
A central question in evolutionary biology is whether sponges or ctenophores (comb jellies) are the sister group to all other animals. These alternative phylogenetic hypotheses imply different scenarios for the evolution of complex neural systems and other animal-specific traits. Conventional phylogenetic approaches based on morphological characters and increasingly extensive gene sequence collections have not been able to definitively answer this question. Here we develop chromosome-scale gene linkage, also known as synteny, as a phylogenetic character for resolving this question. We report new chromosome-scale genomes for a ctenophore and two marine sponges, and for three unicellular relatives of animals (a choanoflagellate, a filasterean amoeba and an ichthyosporean) that serve as outgroups for phylogenetic analysis. We find ancient syntenies that are conserved between animals and their close unicellular relatives. Ctenophores and unicellular eukaryotes share ancestral metazoan patterns, whereas sponges, bilaterians, and cnidarians share derived chromosomal rearrangements. Conserved syntenic characters unite sponges with bilaterians, cnidarians, and placozoans in a monophyletic clade to the exclusion of ctenophores, placing ctenophores as the sister group to all other animals. The patterns of synteny shared by sponges, bilaterians, and cnidarians are the result of rare and irreversible chromosome fusion-and-mixing events that provide robust and unambiguous phylogenetic support for the ctenophore-sister hypothesis. These findings provide a new framework for resolving deep, recalcitrant phylogenetic problems and have implications for our understanding of animal evolution.
Topics: Animals; Ctenophora; Genome; Phylogeny; Porifera; Synteny
PubMed: 37198475
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05936-6 -
Marine Drugs Apr 2023Marine sponges are multicellular and primitive animals that potentially represent a wealthy source of novel drugs. The genus (family Axinellidae) is renowned to produce... (Review)
Review
Marine sponges are multicellular and primitive animals that potentially represent a wealthy source of novel drugs. The genus (family Axinellidae) is renowned to produce various metabolites with various structural characteristics and bioactivities, including nitrogen-containing terpenoids, alkaloids, and sterols. The current work provides an up-to-date literature survey and comprehensive insight into the reported metabolites from the members of this genus, as well as their sources, biosynthesis, syntheses, and biological activities whenever available. In the current work, 226 metabolites have been discussed based on published data from the period from 1974 to the beginning of 2023 with 90 references.
Topics: Animals; Porifera; Alkaloids; Terpenes; Nitrogen; Biological Products
PubMed: 37103397
DOI: 10.3390/md21040257 -
Canadian Journal of Microbiology Jan 2023Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the leading global health issues that demand urgent attention. Very soon the world will have to bear the consequences of... (Review)
Review
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the leading global health issues that demand urgent attention. Very soon the world will have to bear the consequences of increased drug resistance if new anti-infectives are not pumped into the clinical pipeline in a short period. This presses on the need for novel chemical entities, and the marine environment is one such hotspot to look for. The Ocean harbours a variety of organisms, of which from this aspect, "Sponges (Phylum Porifera)" are of particular interest. To tackle the stresses faced due to their sessile and filter-feeding lifestyle, sponges produce various bioactive compounds, which can be tapped for human use. The sponges harbour several microorganisms of different types and in most cases; the microbial symbionts are the actual producers of the bioactive compounds. This review describes the alarming need for the development of new antimicrobials and how marine sponges can contribute to this. Selected antimicrobial compounds from the marine sponges and their associated bacteria have been described. Additionally, measures to tackle the supply problem have been covered, which is the primary obstacle in marine natural product drug discovery.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Porifera; Anti-Infective Agents; Bacteria; Biological Products
PubMed: 36288610
DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2022-0147 -
Marine Drugs Mar 2022In the last decades, it has been demonstrated that marine organisms are a substantial source of bioactive compounds with possible biotechnological applications. Marine... (Review)
Review
In the last decades, it has been demonstrated that marine organisms are a substantial source of bioactive compounds with possible biotechnological applications. Marine sponges, in particular those belonging to the class of Demospongiae, have been considered among the most interesting invertebrates for their biotechnological potential. In this review, particular attention is devoted to natural compounds/extracts isolated from Demospongiae and their associated microorganisms with important biological activities for pharmacological applications such as antiviral, anticancer, antifouling, antimicrobial, antiplasmodial, antifungal and antioxidant. The data here presented show that this class of sponges is an exciting source of compounds, which are worth developing into new drugs, such as avarol, a hydroquinone isolated from the marine sponge , which is used as an antitumor, antimicrobial and antiviral drug.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents; Aquatic Organisms; Biological Products; Biotechnology; Porifera
PubMed: 35447918
DOI: 10.3390/md20040244