Abstract
The collagen proteins family is sought-after in the pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food industries for various biotechnological applications. The most abundant sources of collagen are pigs and cows, but due to religious restrictions and possible disease transmission, they became less attractive. An alternative source can be found in marine invertebrates, specifically in sponges. Alas, two problems arise: (1). Growing sponges is complicated. (2). Sponge collagen has low heat tolerance, which can impose a problem for human biotechnological usage. To fill these gaps, we studied the collagen-abundant sponge Chondrosia reniformis. Two culture experiments were conducted: (1). A sea-based system examined the difference in growth rates of C. reniformis from different habitats, growing under natural seasonal conditions; (2). A land-based controlled system, which assessed the growth-rate of C. reniformis at different temperatures. The results reveal that C. reniformis from shallow habitats are growing larger and faster than individuals from colder, deeper habitats, and that the optimal temperature for C. reniformis growth is 25 °C. The results demonstrate that C. reniformis is highly fit for culture and can produce thermally stable collagen. Further research is needed to determine the best conditions for C. reniformis culture for collagen extract and other exciting materials for bioprospecting.
Highlights
The main organic component of the metazoan extracellular matrix is made of the collagen family of proteins [1]
The growth of sponges from shallow and mesophotic habitats was first examined in a sea-based mariculture system experiment, with 15 specimens in each group divided into five cages
The sponges that originated from both shallow and mesophotic depth showed similar growth patterns: they grew in the spring and fall, and shrank in the summer and winter
Summary
The main organic component of the metazoan extracellular matrix is made of the collagen family of proteins [1]. Collagens appear in various organizational forms, and carry many mechanical and physiological functions [2]. The collagen market is growing fast worldwide. In 2016, its value was estimated at 3.61 billion dollars, and its expected value in 2025 was estimated at. One of the major difficulties in collagen manufacture is a supply problem. Cows and pigs were the primary sources for collagen production [4]. Those sources became limited for two main reasons: (1) religious restrictions (Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam); (2) fear of transmission of zoonotic diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy [5]. A demand for new sources of collagen has emerged
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