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Terpene biosynthesis in marine sponge animals.

Kayla Wilson1, Tristan de Rond1,2, Immo Burkhardt1

  • 1Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|February 21, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Marine sponges yield valuable natural products. This study identifies terpene synthases (TSs) in sponge animals, suggesting they, not just microbes, produce some terpenoids, broadening our understanding of sponge biosynthesis.

Keywords:
biosynthesismarine spongenatural productsterpene synthase

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Area of Science:

  • Marine biology
  • Natural product chemistry
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Sea sponges are prolific sources of diverse small-molecule natural products with significant medicinal applications.
  • Sponge-derived compounds like eribulin and manoalide highlight their therapeutic potential.
  • The sponge microbiome is widely considered the primary source of these natural products, with microbes, not the host animal, producing most metabolites.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential role of the sponge animal host in the biosynthesis of terpenoid molecules.
  • To explore the genetic basis of terpenoid production within sponge holobiomes.
  • To identify and characterize terpene synthases (TSs) in sponge-associated organisms.

Main Methods:

  • Metagenomic and transcriptomic sequencing of an isonitrile sesquiterpenoid-producing sponge (order Bubarida).
  • Bioinformatic analysis to identify terpene synthase (TS) genes within the sponge holobiome.
  • Biochemical validation and characterization of identified TS homologs.

Main Results:

  • Identification of type I terpene synthases (TSs) in the sponge holobiome, the first characterized from this environment.
  • TS-associated gene sequences from the Bubarida sponge showed eukaryotic characteristics (introns, homology to sponge genes).
  • Homologous TS genes were found in five distinct sponge species from various locations, indicating widespread distribution.

Conclusions:

  • This research identifies terpene synthases in sponge animals, challenging the exclusive microbial origin of sponge metabolites.
  • The findings suggest that sponge animals themselves may contribute to the biosynthesis of certain terpenoid compounds.
  • This work broadens the understanding of secondary metabolite production in sponges and opens avenues for discovering other animal-host-derived molecules.