Influence of rocky substrata on three-dimensional sponge cells model development

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Ecology
• Biomineralization

Background:

• Rocky substrata influence marine and freshwater organisms.
• Mineralogical composition affects organismal biology and ecology.
• Sponges are key rocky bottom dwellers.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate biological responses of sponges to inorganic substrata.
• Utilize 3D sponge cellular aggregates (primmorphs) as a multidisciplinary model.
• Examine the effects of calcium carbonate vs. quartzitic substrata on sponge primmorphs.

Main Methods:

• Cultured primmorphs from Petrosia ficiformis on calcium carbonate and quartzitic substrata.
• Described morphological development of primmorphs.
• Quantified gene expression levels of silicatein and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70).

Main Results:

• Quartzitic substrata increased silicatein gene expression, crucial for spiculogenesis and growth.
• Quartzitic substrata led to lower heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) gene expression, indicating reduced stress.
• Significant morphological differences were observed in primmorphs grown on quartzitic substrata compared to marble (calcium carbonate).

Conclusions:

• In vitro primmorph models effectively demonstrate substrate-induced biological responses in sponges.
• Mineralogical composition of substrata significantly impacts sponge gene expression and morphology.
• Quartzitic substrata promote growth-related gene expression and reduce stress indicators in Petrosia ficiformis primmorphs.