High impact information on Porifera

• Experiments were carried out on a freshwater sponge (Ephydatia mulleri) in order to demonstrate the presence of fibronectin in Porifera [1].
• Fibronectin-like protein in Porifera: its role in cell aggregation [1].
• The presence of at least four such genes in the evolutionary ancient and primitive phylum Porifera suggests that tyrosine kinase genes arose concomitantly with or shortly after the appearance of multicellular organisms and that their activity may be involved in aggregation and cell-cell recognition [2].
• Phylogenetic position of the Hexactinellida within the phylum Porifera based on the amino acid sequence of the protein kinase C from Rhabdocalyptus dawsoni [3].
• As 'autapomorphic' proteins which are restricted to Metazoa only, integrin receptors, receptors with scavenger receptor cysteine-rich repeats, neuronal-like receptors and protein-tyrosine kinases (PTKs) have been identified in Porifera [4].

Biological context of Porifera

• Phylogeography of western Pacific Leucetta 'chagosensis' (Porifera: Calcarea) from ribosomal DNA sequences: implications for population history and conservation of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (Australia) [5].

Associations of Porifera with chemical compounds

• An analysis of the phylogenetic relationships of the 13 orders of Demospongiae, based on 18S and C1, D1 and C2 domains of 28S rRNA (for, respectively, 26 and 32 taxa) has been performed [6].
• No specific binding was observed in Actinothoe albocincta (Cnidaria) or Tethya aurantium (Porifera) [7].
• NADPH-dependent BPH activity (pmol min(-1) mg(-1) protein) was found in 32 species, being lowest in Porifera and Cnidaria (3-4), intermediate in Mollusca (7.8+/-1.3), and highest in Crustacea (25+/-4) and Echinodermata (15+/-4) [8].

Gene context of Porifera

• Our novel evolutionary scenario features a single homeobox capturing event and an early duplication of Pax genes before the divergence of porifera, indicating a more diverse role of Pax proteins in primitive animals than previously expected [9].
• Moreover, we show the expression of Hsp60 in various species among Porifera and Cnidaria, suggesting a general importance of this protein among marine invertebrates [10].
• The reproductive development of the Demospongiae species Halisarca dujardini (Halisarcida), Myxilla incrustans and Iophon piceus (Poecilosclerida) from Chupa Inlet (Kandalaksha Bay, the White Sea) was studied histologically during 1982-1994 and 1997 [11].
• Sponges (Porifera) model systems to study the shift from immortal to senescent somatic cells: the telomerase activity in somatic cells [12].
• The association between the aquatic phases of the caddisfly Ceraclea fulva (Trichoptera, Leptoceridae) and the freshwater sponge Ephydatia fluviatilis (Porifera, Spongillidae) has been investigated by means of scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM) [13].

References