Axinella Damicornis Research Articles

Heavy metal accumulation capacity of Axinella damicornis (Esper, 1794) (Porifera, Demospongiae): a tool for bioremediation of polluted seawaters

Within the overwhelming increase of pollutants spilled into the sea, heavy metals are emerging contaminants due to their high toxicity, persistence, and accumulation in both the organisms and the environment. This study aims to assess the retention capability of lead and cadmium by the sponge Axinella damicornis under laboratory conditions. The sponges were exposed for 144 h to seawaters artificially polluted with Pb and Cd separately and with a mixture of the two metals. The retention efficiency of the sponge in removing the metals from seawater and the metal uptake in the sponge body at the end of the experiment were measured. The highest values were recorded for Pb: in the sponge, this metal resulted in 6 times and 9 times more concentrated than Cd, in the case of single and double contamination respectively. The metal concentrations, especially for Pb, were much higher in A. damicornis than in other organisms investigated in the sea. The synergistic effects of the mixture of Pb and Cd were also evaluated, and remarkable signs of stress and necrosis were recorded in the specimens exposed to the two metals combined. This study paves the way to the knowledge increasing on both the effective effects of heavy metal contamination on the organisms and on the possible use of A. damicornis as efficient tool for bioremediation of polluted seawaters.

Investigation of protease productivity of marine bacteria isolated from Axinella damicornis sponge and partial characterization of produced protease

Proteolitik enzim grubundan proteazlar ticari enzim pazarında önemli bir yere sahiptirler. Kullanım alanlarına göre farklı karakteristik özelliklere sahip olmaları istenilen proteazların üstün özellikte olanlarının endüstriye kazandırılması önem teşkil etmektedir. Bu yüzden yeni mikrobiyal türlerin izolasyonu ve bu türlerden üretimlerin yapılması önemli bir çalışma konusudur. Bu çalışmada Kaş, Antalya, Türkiye’den izole edilen 81 sucul bakteriyel izolatın proteaz üretkenlikleri taranmıştır. En üretken izolatın Microbacterium genusuna ait olduğu belirlenmiş ve bu izolat ile çalkalamalı flask üretimlerde 166 U ml-1 aktivitesinde proteaz üretilmiştir. Ayrıca üretilen proteazın optimum sıcaklık ve pH değerlerinin 35oC ve pH 8 olduğu belirlenmiştir. Bunun yanında enzim aktivitesinin 10 mM MnCl2 etkisinde arttığı ve enzimin uzun süreli depolanmasında 4oC’nin -20oC ve 25oC koşullarına göre daha avantajlı olduğu gösterilmiştir.

Structural studies on Demospongiae sponges from Gökçeada Island in the Northern Aegean Sea

The Demospongiae is the largest Class in the phylum Porifera (sponges). Most sponge species in the Class Demospongiae have a skeleton of siliceous spicules and/or protein spongin or both. The first aim of this study was to perform the morphological and structural characterization of the siliceous spicules of four species belonging to Class Demospongiae (Suberites domuncula, Axinella polypoides, Axinella damicornis and Agelas oroides) collected around Gökçeada Island-Turkey (Northern Aegean Sea). The characterizations were carried out using a combination of Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) techniques.The sponge Chondrosia reniformis (Porifera, Demospongiae) lacks a structural skeleton of spicules or the spongin. It consists mainly of a collagenous tissue. The collagen with sponge origin is an important source in biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. The second aim of this study was to provide more information on the molecular structure of collagen of outer (ectosome) and inner (choanosome) regions of the Chondrosia reniformis using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy.Hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) was also used for the discrimination of ATR-FTIR spectra of species.

Biosynthesis in marine sponges: the radiolabelling strikes back

Biochemical pathways involved in the production of marine sponge secondary metabolites remain mostly unknown. The physicochemical characteristics of the marine environment and the complex structures encountered in marine sponges can explain the lack of results obtained in the biosynthetic studies on marine organisms. Despite significant structural differences, the question of the similarity between the terrestrial and marine biosynthetic pathways remains. To increase our level of knowledge on the sponge metabolic pathways, we developed an experimental protocol using a relatively simple model. Pyrrole imidazole alkaloids represent a very large and interesting family of sponge alkaloids found in many sponge species worldwide. Using oroidin as our target metabolite and the common Mediterranean sponge Axinella damicornis, we measured the incorporation of radiolabelled amino acids into secondary metabolites by “feeding” experiment. This in vivo protocol based on a highly sensitive radioactive detection allowed the identification of the origin of an entire sponge natural product skeleton for the first time.

Differences in reproductive timing among sponges sharing habitat and thermal regime

Abstract. The reproductive cycles of four Mediterranean demosponges (Axinella damicornis, Corticium candelabrum, Raspaciona aculeata, and Chondrosia reniformis) were investigated during 2 consecutive years. Three of the species had annual gametogenic cycles characterized by a single peak of gamete production, but members of C. candelabrum showed continuous oocyte production during the 2 years. The relationship between gametogenic dynamics and seawater temperature varied substantially among species, contrary to the widespread belief that gamete production is associated with seasonal water warming. The annual temperature increase (in June) concurred with oocyte production only in C. reniformis, although maximum temperatures were simultaneous with the production of both oocytes in R. aculeata and sperm in C. reniformis. In contrast, the annual temperature decline in October was associated with both oogenesis in A. damicornis and spermatogenesis in R. aculeata. Spermatogenesis in A. damicornis started after a 5‐month period of low‐temperature values (December–April in 2004 and November–March in 2005). Likewise, in C. candelabrum, spermatogenesis started after a 3‐month period of low‐temperature values (November–February), a period concomitant with a slow increase in oocyte production. These findings reveal that sponge species that cooccur and share similar thermal regimes may differ substantially in their timing of gamete production. If we are to predict the future effects of climate change on marine benthic communities, there is an urgent need to improve our knowledge of the species‐specific relationship between timing of gametogenesis and temperature, at least for those sponges that are key species in benthic communities.

Ultrastructure of oogenesis of two oviparous demosponges: Axinella damicornis and Raspaciona aculeata (Porifera)

We investigated the cytology of the oogenic cycle in two oviparous demosponges, Axinella damicornis and Raspaciona aculeata, during 2 consecutive years both by light and electron microscopy. Oocytes of both species were similar in their basic morphological features but differences were noticed in time required to complete oocyte maturation and mechanisms of acquisition of nutritional reserves. The oogenic cycle of A. damicornis extended for 7–8 months in autumn-spring, while that of R. aculeata did it for 3–5 months in summer-autumn. Yolk of A. damicornis was predominantly formed by autosynthesis. Oocytes endocytosed bacteria individually and stored them in groups in large vesicles. Bacteria were digested and lipidic material was added to the vesicles to produce a peculiar granular yolk hitherto unknown in sponges. Scarce cells carrying heterogeneous inclusions were observed in the perioocytic space, and were interpreted as putative nurse cells. Such cells were presumably releasing lipid granules to the perioocytic space. In contrast, large numbers of nurse cells were found surrounding the oocytes of R. aculeata. They transported both lipid granules and heterogeneous yolk bodies to the oocytes. R. aculeata also produced some of their yolk by autosynthesis. The involvement of nurse cells in the vitellogenesis of R. aculeata shortened the oocyte maturation, whereas a largely autosynthetic vitellogenesis in A. damicornis prolonged the duration of oogenesis.

Damipipecolin and damituricin, novel bioactive bromopyrrole alkaloids from the Mediterranean sponge Axinella damicornis

Two new bromopyrrole alkaloids, damipipecolin ( 1) and damituricin ( 2), have been isolated from the Mediterranean sponge Axinella damicornis, and their structures established through spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1 and 2 extend the structural variety of the so far known pyrrole alkaloids; in these compounds, the 4-bromopyrrole 2-carboxylic acid is directly condensed with a non-protein cyclic α-amino acid, the (2 R, 4 R)- trans-4-hydroxypipecolic acid and (2 R, 4 R)- cis- N, N′-dimethyl-4-hydroxyproline ( d-turicine) in 1 and 2, respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 were found to display a modulating effect of the serotonin receptor activity in vitro.

Daminin, a Bioactive Pyrrole Alkaloid from the Mediterranean Sponge Axinella damicornis.

ChemInformVolume 36, Issue 46 Natural Products Daminin, a Bioactive Pyrrole Alkaloid from the Mediterranean Sponge Axinella damicornis. Anna Aiello, Anna Aiello Dip. Chim. Sostanze Nat., Univ. “Federico II”, I-80131 Napoli, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorMonica D'Esposito, Monica D'Esposito Dip. Chim. Sostanze Nat., Univ. “Federico II”, I-80131 Napoli, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorErnesto Fattorusso, Ernesto Fattorusso Dip. Chim. Sostanze Nat., Univ. “Federico II”, I-80131 Napoli, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorMarialuisa Menna, Marialuisa Menna Dip. Chim. Sostanze Nat., Univ. “Federico II”, I-80131 Napoli, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorWerner E. G. Mueller, Werner E. G. Mueller Dip. Chim. Sostanze Nat., Univ. “Federico II”, I-80131 Napoli, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorSanja Perovic-Ottstadt, Sanja Perovic-Ottstadt Dip. Chim. Sostanze Nat., Univ. “Federico II”, I-80131 Napoli, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorHideyuki Tsuruta, Hideyuki Tsuruta Dip. Chim. Sostanze Nat., Univ. “Federico II”, I-80131 Napoli, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorTobias A. M. Gulder, Tobias A. M. Gulder Dip. Chim. Sostanze Nat., Univ. “Federico II”, I-80131 Napoli, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorGerhard Bringmann, Gerhard Bringmann Dip. Chim. Sostanze Nat., Univ. “Federico II”, I-80131 Napoli, ItalySearch for more papers by this author Anna Aiello, Anna Aiello Dip. Chim. Sostanze Nat., Univ. “Federico II”, I-80131 Napoli, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorMonica D'Esposito, Monica D'Esposito Dip. Chim. Sostanze Nat., Univ. “Federico II”, I-80131 Napoli, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorErnesto Fattorusso, Ernesto Fattorusso Dip. Chim. Sostanze Nat., Univ. “Federico II”, I-80131 Napoli, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorMarialuisa Menna, Marialuisa Menna Dip. Chim. Sostanze Nat., Univ. “Federico II”, I-80131 Napoli, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorWerner E. G. Mueller, Werner E. G. Mueller Dip. Chim. Sostanze Nat., Univ. “Federico II”, I-80131 Napoli, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorSanja Perovic-Ottstadt, Sanja Perovic-Ottstadt Dip. Chim. Sostanze Nat., Univ. “Federico II”, I-80131 Napoli, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorHideyuki Tsuruta, Hideyuki Tsuruta Dip. Chim. Sostanze Nat., Univ. “Federico II”, I-80131 Napoli, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorTobias A. M. Gulder, Tobias A. M. Gulder Dip. Chim. Sostanze Nat., Univ. “Federico II”, I-80131 Napoli, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorGerhard Bringmann, Gerhard Bringmann Dip. Chim. Sostanze Nat., Univ. “Federico II”, I-80131 Napoli, ItalySearch for more papers by this author First published: 18 October 2005 https://doi.org/10.1002/chin.200546189Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume36, Issue46November 15, 2005 RelatedInformation

Damicoside from Axinella damicornis: The Influence of a Glycosylated Galactose 4-OH Group on the Immunostimulatory Activity of α-Galactoglycosphingolipids

Alpha-galactoglycosphingolipids (alpha-GalGSLs) are unique immunostimulatory glycosphingolipids from marine sponges. Analysis of the glycosphingolipid composition of the marine sponge Axinella damicornis revealed the presence of a new alpha-GalGSL, damicoside (3a), which is the first alpha-GalGSL with a glycosylated galactose 4-OH group. Structure elucidation of damicoside was performed using spectroscopic and chemical methods. When tested in a spleen cell proliferation assay, 3a exhibited a stimulatory activity comparable to that of agelasphin (2), showing that a free galactose 4-OH group is not essential for the immunostimulatory activity of alpha-GalGSLs and providing a further step toward the complete understanding of their structure-activity relationship.

Daminin, a bioactive pyrrole alkaloid from the Mediterranean sponge Axinella damicornis

The isolation and characterization of the known pyrrole alkaloid agelongine ( 6 ) and of the new natural product daminin ( 7 ), the bromine-free analogue of 6 , from a specimen of the marine sponge Axinella damicornis is described. Compound 7 showed significant neuroprotective properties. Moreover, for the supply of sufficient material for future medicinal investigations, a short total synthesis of 7 was developed.

Shear effects on suspended marine sponge cells

Fractions of viable cells, apoptotic and irreversibly damaged cells, dead whole cells and cell fragments were measured by flow cytometry during the production of freely suspended primary cells from explants of the marine sponge Axinella damicornis. The explants were disintegrated using the well-known Müller protocol [W.E.G. Müller, M. Wiens, R. Batel, R. Steffen, R. Borojevic, M.R. Custodio, Establishment of a primary cell culture from a sponge: primmorphs from Suberites domuncula, Mar. Ecol. Progr. Ser. 178 (1999) 205–219]. Supplementation of the standard Ca 2+- and Mg 2+-free artificial seawater of the Müller protocol, with the shear protectant Pluronic F68 (0.1%, w/v) greatly reduced the cell damage and enhanced the recovery of viable cells at each of the four stages of the protocol. Agitation of cells on an orbital shaker at 75 rpm essentially killed all the viable cells within 2.5 h, but no loss of viability occurred at a higher agitation speed of 100 rpm for up to 6 h when the cells were supplemented with Pluronic F68. This time-dependent loss in viability could be significantly reduced by processing at 3 °C instead of the normal 17 °C. A four-step mechanistic model was shown to describe the kinetics of cell death and fragmentation within ±10% of the measured values. The damage to cells was modeled as a web of first-order processes that did not depend on cell–cell interactions. The forces in the agitated fluid killed the viable cells by impact, which was not accompanied by cell rupture (i.e. the cell was left dead, but intact).

Implications from a 28S rRNA gene fragment for the phylogenetic relationships of halichondrid sponges (Porifera: Demospongiae)

Halichondrida is a pivotal demosponge order of which the classification underwent major changes in the recent history. The monophyly of this order and its intra-ordinal phylogeny cannot be reliably determined on the basis of morphology. Here we present a 28Sr RNA gene tree of selected halichondrids, which supports the hypothesis of halichondrid non-monophyly and elucidates further inter-ordinal relationships. We enlarged the analysis by previously published sequences, discuss how previous analyses suffer from taxon bias and analyse the resulting phylogenetic implications. Most halichondrid families (in particular Axinellidae und Dictyonellidae) cluster polyphyletic and the molecular classification of several genera does not agree with the current (morphological) system. Zusammenfassung Die Systematik der Ordnung Halichondrida ist von Bedeutung fur die Phylogenie aller Demospongien und hat in den letzten Jahren grose Veranderungen vollzogen. Dennoch konnte die Monophylie dieser Ordnung und ihrer Familien noch nicht mit morphologischen Merkmalen deutlich gemacht werden. Hier prasentieren und diskutieren wir eine 28SrDNA-Phylogenie reprasentativer Halichondrien. Teils wurde diese Stammbaumrekonstruktion durch Sequenzen aus anderen Arbeiten erweitert und der Einfluss des Taxonsets auf das Resultat analysiert. Die Monophylie der Ordnung wird durch diese Fragmentanalyse nicht gestutzt, und mehrere Familien (insbesondere Axinellidae und Dictyonellidae) gruppieren polyphyletisch. Die Position mehrerer Gattungen, insbesondere Axinyssa und Stylissa, ist nicht im Einklang mit dem aktuellen (morphologischen) System.

New natural products from the sponge-derived fungus Aspergillus niger.

Fractionation of the EtOAc extract of a static culture of Aspergillus niger isolated from the Mediterranean sponge Axinella damicornis yielded eight secondary metabolites, out of which seven compounds (2-8) proved to be new natural products, whereas one was identified as the known fungal pigment cycloleucomelone (1). The new compounds included the 3,3'-bicoumarin bicoumanigrin (2), the structurally unusual 4-benzyl-1H-pyridin-6-one derivatives aspernigrins A and B (3 and 4), and pyranonigrins A-D (5-8), the latter featuring a novel pyrano[3,2-b]pyrrole skeleton hitherto unprecedented in nature. All structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopic studies ((1)H, (13)C, COSY, HMQC, HMBC, NOE difference spectra) and mass spectral analysis. For the two chiral molecules 4 and 5, the absolute configurations were established by quantum chemical calculations of their circular dichroism (CD) spectra. In each case, two independent methods, i.e., a molecular dynamics approach taking into consideration the molecular flexibility, and a conformational analysis followed by Boltzmann weighting of the single CD spectra calculated for the conformers thus obtained, led to identical results without the need of any empirical comparison of chiroptical data reported for reference compounds. Bicoumanigrin (2) showed moderate cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines in vitro. In addition, aspernigrin B (4) was found to display a strong neuroprotective effect against glutamic acid.

Consistent association of crenarchaeal Archaea with sponges of the genus Axinella

The association of sponges with microorganisms has been accepted to be a common feature of the phylum Porifera. Herein we describe the association between filamentous Archaea and three Mediterranean species of sponges from the family Axinellidae (Porifera: Demospongiae). Axinella damicornis, A. verrucosa and Axinella sp. harbor a high concentration of filamentous Archaea in the collagen that surrounds the siliceous spicules that form their skeleton. These Archaea have been found in every axinellid specimen studied, regardless of their environment and collection time. The morphology of the filaments has been studied using transmission electron microscopy, and they all show similar characteristics. Their nature has been determined by in situ hybridization experiments and by PCR amplification and sequencing of their 16S DNA. Each sponge species contains a single filamentous archaeal phylotype. The Archaea of the three sponges are closely related to each other and to the marine "group 1" crenarchaeotes. Our findings suggest that this newly described association could be defined as a symbiosis, where biochemical and/or metabolic relationships between the sponge hosts and their symbionts remain to be determined.

Cellular aspects of alloimmune reactions in sponges of the genus Axinella II. Axinella verrucosa and Axinella damicornis

AbstractThe analysis and understanding of immune reactions in sponges are presently impaired by numerous discrepancies and inconsistencies between the results obtained for different species that make critical judgment difficult. In order to determine the possible influence of experimental procedures, parabiotic allografts were performed on Axinella verrucosa and Axinella damicornis. Three reactions were observed in allogrfts of Axinella verrucosa: acceptance, nonfusion, and chronic rejection. The acceptance reaction differed from the fusion of control autografts by a transient phase of dense cell accumulation between the parabionts. Nonfusion resulted in the virtual absence of reaction between the incompatible sponges. Chronic rejection was characterized by: 1) intensive cell migration and accumulation of collencytes in the zone of contact; 2) regular alignment of these cells on each side of that zone; 3) deposition of a collagen barrier that progressively joined but demarcated the parabionts. Some sponges presented nonfusion or chronic rejection depending on their graft partner. All allografts in Axinella damicornis displayed a chronic rejection reaction, which was essentially similar, but more intense and faster, than in Axinella verrucosa. However, in Axinella damicornis, the parabionts which were separated by the barrier became independent instead of joined. Reasons for and the implications of such a diversity of immune reactions in sponges are discussed.

The sterols of the sponge Axinella damicornis

The sterols of the sponge Axinella damicornis are comprised of C 26-C 29 5α-stanols having the conventional C-19 nucleus and saturated and Δ 22-unsaturated side chains.

Composition and Biosynthesis of Sterols in Some Sponges

1. The capacity of synthesizing sterols was investigated in the sponges Euspongia officinalis, Axinella damicornis, Geodia miilleri and two Halichondria species. It was found that the radioactive acetate administered to the sponges was utilized for the biosynthesis of saponifiable and non-saponifiable lipids, including sterols. 2. The sterols of Geodia, Halichondria I and Eusfiongia are Δ5 unsaturated. The sterol mixture of Euspongia is very complex, cholesterol being strongly predominant. 3. The sterols of Halichondria II and Axinella are nuclear saturated, though some Δ7 sterols are present. 4. In Axinella a series of completely new sterols was found. Identification of them is in progress.