Giant basal spicule from the deep-sea glass sponge Monorhaphis chuni: synthesis of the largest bio-silica structure on Earth by silicatein

Abstract

Like all sponges (phylum Porifera), the glass sponges (Hexactinellida) are provided with an elaborate and distinct body plan, which relies on a filigree skeleton. It is constructed by an array of morphologically determined elements, the spicules. Schulze described the largest siliceous hexactinellid sponge on Earth, the up to 3 m high Monorhaphis chuni, collected during the German Deep Sea Expedition “Valdivia” (1898–1899). This species develops an equally large bio-silica structure, the giant basal spicule (3 m × 10 mm). Using these spicules as a model, one can obtain the basic knowledge on the morphology, formation, and development of silica skeletal elements. The silica matrix is composed of almost pure silica, endowing it with unusual optophysical properties, which are superior to those of man-made waveguides. Experiments suggest that the spicules function in vivo as a nonocular photoreception system. The spicules are also provided with exceptional mechanical properties. Like demosponges, the hexactinellids synthesize their silica enzymatically via the enzyme silicatein (27 kDa protein). This enzyme is located in/embedded in the silica layers. This knowledge will surely contribute to a further utilization and exploration of silica in biomaterial/biomedical science.

Keywords

sponge / Porifera / Hexactinellida / spicule / giant basal spicule / silicatein / biomaterial science

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Marine Biological Museum of Institute of Oceanography, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Qingdao, China) for providing us with the Monorhaphis spicules for our research. This work was supported by grants from the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung Germany (Project “Center of Excellence BIOTECmarin”), the International Human Frontier Science Program, the European Commission, the International S & T Cooperation Program of China (Grant No. 2008DFA00980), the Basic Scientific Research Program in China (Grant No. 200607CSJ-05) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50402023).

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