Synthesis of the neurotoxin quinolinic acid in apoptotic tissue from Suberites domuncula: cell biological, molecular biological and chemical analyses

Sessile marine animals, such as sponges, are prone to infection by prokaryotic as well as by eukaryotic attacking organisms. In the present study we document for the first time that in tissue from sponges which underwent apoptosis, a toxic compound is produced which very likely controls the elimination of the dying tissue. The marine sponge Suberites domuncula develops in the field occasionally apoptotic tissue areas which are rapidly eliminated. In the present study apoptosis was induced in S. domuncula by exposing the specimens in aquaria to 5 µg/ml Dip or by maintaining the sponges for 3 - 5 days under non-aeration conditions. After that treatment only one eukaryotic epibiont, the mollus…