Cellular effects of bacterial N-3-Oxo-dodecanoyl-L-Homoserine lactone on the sponge Suberites domuncula (Olivi, 1792): insights into an intimate inter-kingdom dialogue.
International audience; Sponges and bacteria have lived together in complex consortia for 700 million years. As filter feeders, sponges prey on bacteria. Nevertheless, some bacteria are associated with sponges in symbiotic relationships. To enable this association, sponges and bacteria are likely to have developed molecular communication systems. These may include molecules such as N-acyl-L-homoserine lactones, produced by Gram-negative bacteria also within sponges. In this study, we examined the role of N-3-oxododecanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C12-HSL) on the expression of immune and apoptotic genes of the host sponge Suberites domuncula. This molecule seemed to inhibit the sponge inn…
Purification and partial characterization of a lectin protein complex, the clathrilectin, from the calcareous sponge Clathrina clathrus
Carbohydrate-binding proteins were purified from the marine calcareous sponge Clathrina clathrus via affinity chromatography on lactose and N-acetyl glucosamine- agarose resins. Proteomic analysis of acrylamide gel separated protein subunits obtained in reducing conditions pointed out several candidates for lectins. Based on amino- acid sequence similarity, two peptides displayed homology with the jack bean lectin Concanavalin A, including a conserved domain shared by proteins in the L-type lectin superfamily. An N-acetyl glucosamine - binding protein complex, named clathrilectin, was further purified via gel filtration chromatography, bioguided with a diagnostic rabbit erythrocyte haemag…
Porifera Lectins: diversity, physiological roles and biotechnological potential
An overview on the diversity of 39 lectins from the phylum Porifera is presented, including 38 lectins, which were identified from the class of demosponges, and one lectin from the class of hexactinellida. Their purification from crude extracts was mainly performed by using affinity chromatography and gel filtration techniques. Other protocols were also developed in order to collect and study sponge lectins, including screening of sponge genomes and expression in heterologous bacterial systems. The characterization of the lectins was performed by Edman degradation or mass spectrometry. Regarding their physiological roles, sponge lectins showed to be involved in morphogenesis and cell intera…
A synthetic biology approach for the fabrication of functional (fluorescent magnetic) bioorganic–inorganic hybrid materials in sponge primmorphs
During evolution, sponges (Porifera) have honed the genetic toolbox and biosynthetic mechanisms for the fabrication of siliceous skeletal components (spicules). Spicules carry a protein scaffold embedded within biogenic silica (biosilica) and feature an amazing range of optical, structural, and mechanical properties. Thus, it is tempting to explore the low-energy synthetic pathways of spiculogenesis for the fabrication of innovative hybrid materials. In this synthetic biology approach, the uptake of multifunctional nonbiogenic nanoparticles (fluorescent, superparamagnetic) by spicule-forming cells of bioreactor-cultivated sponge primmorphs provides access to spiculogenesis. The ingested nan…
Molecular Evolution of Defense Pathways in Sponges: Self–Self-recognition and Fight against the Nonself
This article provides an overview of the immune system in poriferans at a tissue, cellular, and molecular level. Despite their simple organization, sponges have developed molecular mechanisms to recognize and resist foreign organisms. They are able to distinguish among food organisms, pathogens, and sponge-associated organisms. Although they lack specialized immune cells, sponges display molecular precursors, which are similar to molecular mediators involved in innate and adaptive immune systems, present in more evolutionarily advanced taxa, as outlined in succeeding articles in the Phylogeny section.