Tectitethya crypta

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Tectitethya crypta
Tectitethya crypta.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Demospongiae
Order: Tethyida
Family: Tethyidae
Genus: Tectitethya
Species:
T. crypta
Binomial name
Tectitethya crypta
Synonyms [1]
  • Cryptotethya cryptade Laubenfels, 1949
  • Tethya crypta(de Laubenfels, 1949)

Tectitethya crypta is a species of demosponge belonging to the family Tethyidae. [1] Its classified family is characterized by fourteen different known genera, one of them being Tectitethya. [2] It is a massive, shallow-water sponge found in the Caribbean Sea. [3] [4] This sponge was first discovered by Werner Bergmann in 1945 and later classified by de Laubenfels in 1949. It is located in reef areas situated on softer substrates such as sand or mud. [5] [6] Oftentimes, it is covered in sand and algae. [3] [4] This results in an appearance that is cream colored/ gray colored; however, when the animal is washed free of its sediment coverings, its body plan appears more green and gray. It's characterized with ostia peaking out of its body cavity, with the ability to abruptly open or close, changing its desired water flow rate through its mesohyl.

Contents

This sponge is widely known for its contributions to the field of medicine as a source for potent nucleoside analogues used in treating H.I.V, Acute Myeloid Leukemia, pancreatic cancer, Ebola, and others. The nucleosides spongothymidine and spongouridine were isolated from this sponge, providing the basis for anti-viral drugs and anti-cancer drugs. [3] [4] Vidarabine, an antiviral drug, was derived from these compounds. [7] The discovery of these nucleosides also led to the development of cytarabine for clinical use in the treatment of leukemia and lymphoma. [8] Gemcitabine, a fluorinated derivative of cytarabine, is used to treat pancreatic, breast, bladder, and non-small-cell lung cancer. [8] Holding such valuable compounds, free-living within the animal, T. crypta has shaped the present and future world of medicine.

Anatomy & physiology

Body morphology

As described by Laubenfels, the body of this sponge is amorphous, bulky, and approximately the size of one's fist. Its dimensions are around 4 by 7 by 12 centimetres (1.6 in × 2.8 in × 4.7 in) and may be cylindrical, conical, or hemispherical in shape. [2] More recent studies have indicated a larger range of size within this species. The outermost, visible layer of the animal can be seen to have flat tubercules, approximately 3 to 5 millimeters in diameter and a thick layer of sediment. Its actual olive pigment isn't easily visible under this layer of sand/ sediment. In clustered bundles on the surface of the animal are structures called megascleres, radiating and branching outwards. Ray tips are rounded; micrasters are seen to be 8 to 12 micrometers in diameter. Star spicules makeup a layer beneath its exterior skeleton. T. crypta is not characterized with a cortex. [2]

Size

Three main developmental phases have been identified in conjunction with the sponges' localization of course sediment within its body. [3] The small sponges are characterized with a spherical shape and possess evenly spread sediment. The medium T. crypta sponges are seen to have a conical shape with their sediment concentrated near their bottom or base. The larger sponges are seen to be irregular in shape and also have evenly distributed sediments. With each body size are different habits that each acquire. Smaller sponges are unattached and are seen to rest and roll freely. The medium sponges are also unattached; however, they still have great stability with their shape and sediment concentration. Lastly, the larger sponges are attached on their bottom-end. Typically, 67% of their body is buried in sand.

Movement

T. crypta are capable of strong body contractions and allow oscula the ability to move (open/ close) at a quick rate. In fact, this sponge is capable of closing its osculum completely, which has been proven to be a useful adaptation for an animal living in sandy environments. Ostia are about 1 millimeter in size, occurring in clusters along the flank of the sponge. [5] The osculum, bearing a diameter of 20 to 25 millimeters, are seen near the top of the cone. These structures have the ability to be contracted. The ability to circulate water through bottom sediments possibly makes for a nutrient-rich and attractive environment for other organisms to live in or near the sponges. [5]

Sediment organization

The dirty exterior of the sponge smothered in layers of algae/ sediment/ sand serves a purpose to the animal and has been shown to hold structural organization across its species. Sand that is brought into the body will be organized in patterns determined by its granulometry and sponge size. [3] This sorting and distribution occur in the choanosome: sediments smaller than 500 micrometers gather in clusters (known as nuclei) while the larger particles are found to be distributed evenly through the sponge body. T. crypta sponges have been noted to favor the selection of fine sediment grains within the range of 40 to 60 micrometers. [3] Additional analysis through microscopic tools has revealed high selection for allocthonous sponge spicules, radiolarians, and diatoms. [3] Deeper analysis of incorporated sediment is needed to identify additional materials and cells that have not been identified as of now. The sand is eventually transported by a specific cell to a desired location through the use of a cellular track which facilitates sediment transport from the ectosome to the accumulated nuclei. [3] The ontogeny of the T. crypta sponge is largely affected by this process of sediment incorporation and organization. Differentiation between smaller and larger sediments and their corresponding location has proven useful in identifying possible functioning of positioning of these particles on the surface of the sponge. Smaller, fine sediments are packed in the nuclei within the body of the sponge while the more coarse grains are located towards the base of the sponge; this localization helps in anchoring and stabilizing the sponge with the help of gravity. [9] The sediments are involved in part with the morphogenesis of the animal. The forming of the nuclei clusters stabilizes the sponge's body, allowing the animal to alter its skeleton structure. A radial morphology is then able to change into a branched one, which further allows the animal to develop into its massive, irregular fully-formed shape.

Feeding

T. crypta are filter feeders, utilizing their choanocytes to generate an inward current and pulling in their nutrients. The course of action of filter feeding goes as follows: ostium, spongocoel, and osculum. In the middle of this route, nutrients may be absorbed and taken in by the sponge to utilize. T. crypta generally eat the following organisms: Chaetoceros, pinnulaira, striatella unipunctata, and skeleronema tropicum. [10]

Reproduction

T. crypta reproduction may be oviparous through the use of parenchymella larvae or it may be carried out asexually (budding). [2]

Ecology

Tectitethya crypta can be found in shallow water, only about 1 to 20 meters in depth within the Caribbean. [6] It dwells on a soft substrate, typically substances such as muds, sands, or clays. It can geographically be located in a reef near the Florida Keys, Dry Tortugas, and north-west shores of Cuba, as well as the Florida west coast. [6] The larger of the sponges, sizing around 1.5-10 liters in volume are typically found attached to their substrate while the smaller sponges of this species, sizing around 0.5-1.5 liters in volume are typically found to be unattached and resting freely on their bottom. [3]

Human relations

Medicine

Molecular structure of medicines made from the nucleoside analogues derived from T. crypta. Tectitethya crypta in Medicine.png
Molecular structure of medicines made from the nucleoside analogues derived from T. crypta.

The discovery of T. crypta allowed for the discovery of the first sponge-derived pharmaceutical drugs. The two nucleosides, spongothymidine and spongouridine, are documented as the two nucleoside analogues used in the synthesis of life-saving drugs today. These are natural products - not artificially synthesized. Marine natural products (MNP's) have been shown to have stronger bioactive properties than those from terrestrial organisms, possessing cytotoxic and antiproliferative agents. [11] Understanding this has allowed scientists to recognize the role that these potent chemicals may play in chemical defense mechanisms and protection from prey. This may be the case for T. crypta, as it's a sessile organism not possessing an immune system. [12] The treatment of leukemia through the use of Ara-C (cytarabine) is the first documented anticancer agent that has come about from the sponge. [13] In fact, it was approved by the FDA in 1969 in treating non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and myeloid and myelocytic leukemia. [12] As of today, cytarabine is one of the greatest contributors towards anti-cancer therapies. [14] The drug disables Deoxyribonucleic Acid Polymerase, inhibiting DNA synthesis during the S phase of the cell cycle. [6] This discovery allowed for scientists to manipulate the replication of viral DNA within its host and put a complete halt in its division. This hallmark discovery led to the development of azidothymidine (AZT) through the use of Ara-A. Azidothymidine is utilized in the treatment of HIV-infected individuals. Vidarabine (Ara-A) alone is used in ophthalmologic applications today. [12] A fluorinated derivative of Ara-C has contributed towards the advancement of treatment for lung, pancreatic, breast, and bladder cancer. [15] This drug is known as gemcitabine — proven useful in its effectiveness against solid tumors such as these. [14] Manipulation of these two original nucleoside analogues provided by T. crypta has provided scientists and medical professionals the capability to offer humans potential cures to devastating diseases — and has inspired the future of medicine to search for "natural" cures in the sea.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sponge</span> Animals of the phylum Porifera

Sponges, the members of the phylum Porifera, are a basal animal clade as a sister of the diploblasts. They are multicellular organisms that have bodies full of pores and channels allowing water to circulate through them, consisting of jelly-like mesohyl sandwiched between two thin layers of cells.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venus' flower basket</span> Species of sponge

The Venus' flower basket is a glass sponge in the phylum Porifera. It is a marine sponge found in the deep waters of the Pacific ocean, usually at depths below 500 meters. Like other sponges, they feed by filtering sea water to capture plankton and marine snow. Similar to other glass sponges, they build their skeletons out of silica, which forms a unique lattice structure of spicules. The sponges are usually between 10 cm and 30 cm tall, and their bodies act as refuge for their mutualist shrimp partners. This body structure is of great interest in materials science as the optical and mechanical properties are in some ways superior to man-made materials. Little is known regarding their reproduction habits, however fluid dynamics of their body structure likely influence reproduction and it is hypothesized that they may be hermaphroditic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cytarabine</span> Chemical compound (chemotherapy medication)

Cytarabine, also known as cytosine arabinoside (ara-C), is a chemotherapy medication used to treat acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It is given by injection into a vein, under the skin, or into the cerebrospinal fluid. There is a liposomal formulation for which there is tentative evidence of better outcomes in lymphoma involving the meninges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demosponge</span> Class of sponges

Demosponges (Demospongiae) are the most diverse class in the phylum Porifera. They include 76.2% of all species of sponges with nearly 8,800 species worldwide. They are sponges with a soft body that covers a hard, often massive skeleton made of calcium carbonate, either aragonite or calcite. They are predominantly leuconoid in structure. Their "skeletons" are made of spicules consisting of fibers of the protein spongin, the mineral silica, or both. Where spicules of silica are present, they have a different shape from those in the otherwise similar glass sponges. Some species, in particular from the Antarctic, obtain the silica for spicule building from the ingestion of siliceous diatoms.

<i>Halichondria</i> Genus of sponges

Halichondria is a genus of sea sponges belonging to the family Halichondriidae. These are massive, amorphous sponges with clearly separated inner and outer skeletons consisting of bundles of spicules arranged in a seemingly random pattern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine invertebrates</span> Marine animals without a vertebrate column

Marine invertebrates are the invertebrates that live in marine habitats. Invertebrate is a blanket term that includes all animals apart from the vertebrate members of the chordate phylum. Invertebrates lack a vertebral column, and some have evolved a shell or a hard exoskeleton. As on land and in the air, marine invertebrates have a large variety of body plans, and have been categorised into over 30 phyla. They make up most of the macroscopic life in the oceans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sponge spicule</span> Structural element of sea sponges

Spicules are structural elements found in most sponges. The meshing of many spicules serves as the sponge's skeleton and thus it provides structural support and potentially defense against predators.

<i>Suberites</i> Genus of sponges

Suberites is a genus of sea sponges in the family Suberitidae. Sponges, known scientifically as Porifera, are the oldest metazoans and are used to elucidate the basics of multicellular evolution. These living fossils are ideal for studying the principal features of metazoans, such as extracellular matrix interactions, signal-receptor systems, nervous or sensory systems, and primitive immune systems. Thus, sponges are useful tools with which to study early animal evolution. They appeared approximately 580 million years ago, in the Ediacaran.

<i>Spongia officinalis</i> Species of sponge

Spongia officinalis, better known as a variety of bath sponge, is a commercially used sea sponge. Individuals grow in large lobes with small openings and are formed by a mesh of primary and secondary fibers. It is light grey to black in color. It is found throughout the Mediterranean Sea up to 100 meters deep on rocky or sandy surfaces.

Aplysina insularis, commonly known as the yellow-green candle sponge or yellow candle sponge, is a species of sea sponge found on reefs in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

<i>Callyspongia truncata</i> Species of sponge

Callyspongia truncata is a species of marine sea sponge. Like all marine sponges, C. truncata is a member of phylum Porifera and is defined by its filter-feeding lifestyle and flagellated choanocytes, or collar cells, that allow for water movement and feeding. It is a species of demosponge and a member of Demospongiae, the largest class of sponges as well as the family Callyspongiidae. C. truncata is most well known for being the organism from which the polyketide Callystatin A was identified. Callystatin A is a polyketide natural product from the leptomycin family of antibiotics. It was first isolated in 1997 from this organism, which was collected from the Goto Islands in the Nagasaki Prefecture of Japan by the Kobayashi group. Recent studies have revealed numerous other bioactive compounds that have been found in this species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sponge isolates</span>

Lacking an immune system, protective shell, or mobility, sponges have developed an ability to synthesize a variety of unusual compounds for survival. C-nucleosides isolated from Caribbean Cryptotethya crypta, were the basis for the synthesis of zidovudine (AZT), aciclovir (Cyclovir), cytarabine (Depocyt), and cytarabine derivative gemcitabine (Gemzar).

<i>Callyspongia crassa</i> Species of sponge

Callyspongia crassa, commonly known as prickly tube-sponge, is a species of sponge found from the Red Sea to the Seychelles. Its wide flexible brown tube with exterior protuberances can appear as a single tube or as clusters of tubes and can reach up to 50 centimeters in size. Like many other sea sponges, it is primarily used for marine drugs as they have many bioactive components and properties. They also play an important role in marine reef and benthic communities, as they constantly filter water and act as habitats for smaller organisms. As sea sponges, they have the ability to reproduce both sexually and asexually.

Dysidea arenaria is a species of marine sponge (poriferan) found in the Pacific Ocean. It is a member of the order Dictyoceratida, one of two sponge orders that make up the keratose or "horny" sponges in which a mineral skeleton is absent and a skeleton of organic fibers is present instead.

<i>Anheteromeyenia</i> Genus of sponges

Anheteromeyenia is a genus of freshwater sponge. It has been recorded in the Nearctic, the Neotropics. This taxon was initially a subgenus of Heteromeyenia when K. Schöder circumscribed it in 1927, but W. M. de Laubenfels made it a genus in its own right in 1936.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daunorubicin/cytarabine</span> Pharmaceutical drug

Daunorubicin/cytarabine is a fixed-dose combination medication used for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. It contains the liposomal bound daunorubicin, an anthracycline topoisomerase inhibitor, and cytarabine, a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor.

Dysidea etheria, commonly known as the ethereal sponge or heavenly sponge, is a species of lobate sponge within the class Demospongiae. This marine sponge is known for its light blue color and can be found in the Caribbean as well as off the coasts of Florida and Georgia. Like all other poriferans, D. etheria is capable of both sexual and asexual reproduction. The use of spicule collection as well as chemical defenses allows D. etheria to protect itself against predators such as the zebra doris and the orange knobby star. D. etheria is also known as a host species of the invasive brittle star Ophiothela mirabilis. Lastly, various molecular biology studies have utilized D. etheria to both study foreign particle transport in sponges and to isolate novel molecules.

Calcifibrospongiidae is a family of sponges belonging to the order Haplosclerida. The order Haplosclerida is distinguished by isodictyal skeleton. In general, Porifera are basal animals with bodies full of pores and channels. Calcifibrospongiidae includes the species Calcifibrospongia actinostromarioides. There have only been ten recorded occurrences of this species: in Hogsty Reef and San Salvador, as well as in the subtropics of the Bahamas.

<i>Monanchora</i> Genus of demosponges

Monanchora is a genus of demosponges belonging to the family Crambeida. The genus contains 18 species, which have been researched for their potential use in medicine.

References

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  2. 1 2 3 4 Sarà, Michele (2002), Hooper, John N. A.; Van Soest, Rob W. M.; Willenz, Philippe (eds.), "Family Tethyidae Gray, 1848", Systema Porifera, Boston, MA: Springer US, pp. 245–265, doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-0747-5_26, ISBN   978-0-306-47260-2 , retrieved 2020-12-03
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Cerrano, Carlo; Pansini, Maurizio; Valisano, Laura; Calcinai, Barbara; Sarà, Michele; Bavestrello, Giorgio (2004). "Lagoon sponges from Carrie Bow Cay (Belize): Ecological benefits of selective sediment incorporation". Bollettino dei Musei e degli Istituti Biologici dell'Università di Genova. 68: 239–252. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
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  6. 1 2 3 4 O’Donnell, Nicole (2012-06-01). "Book Review: Gulf of Mexico Origin, Waters, and Biota: Biodiversity (Volume 1)". Aquatic Mammals. 38 (2): 223. doi:10.1578/am.38.2.2012.223. ISSN   0167-5427.
  7. ↑ Sagar, Sunil; Kaur, Mandeep; Minneman, Kenneth P. (2010). "Antiviral lead compounds from marine sponges". Marine Drugs. 8 (10): 2619–2638. doi: 10.3390/md8102619 . PMC   2992996 . PMID   21116410.
  8. 1 2 Schwartsmann, G; Brondani da Rocha, A; Berlinck, RG; Jimeno, J (April 2001). "Marine organisms as a source of new anticancer agents". Lancet Oncology. 2 (4): 221–225. doi:10.1016/s1470-2045(00)00292-8. PMID   11905767.
  9. ↑ Calcinai, Barbara; Cerrano, Carlo; Sarà, Michele; Bavestrello, Giorgio (2000). "Boring sponges (Porifera, Demospongiae) from the Indian Ocean". Italian Journal of Zoology. 67 (2): 203–219. doi:10.1080/11250000009356314. ISSN   1125-0003. S2CID   84082407.
  10. ↑ "Tectitethya crypta (de Laubenfels 1949) data - Encyclopedia of Life". eol.org. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  11. ↑ Altmann, Karl-Heinz (2017-10-25). "Drugs from the Oceans: Marine Natural Products as Leads for Drug Discovery". CHIMIA International Journal for Chemistry. 71 (10): 646–652. doi: 10.2533/chimia.2017.646 . ISSN   0009-4293. PMID   29070409.
  12. 1 2 3 Hansen KØ, Isaksson J, Bayer A, Johansen JA, Andersen JH, Hansen E (2017). "Securamine Derivatives from the Arctic Bryozoan Securiflustra securifrons". Journal of Natural Products. 80 (12): 3276–3283. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.7b00703.s001 .
  13. ↑ Essack, Magbubah; Bajic, Vladimir B.; Archer, John A. C. (September 20, 2011). "Recently Confirmed Apoptosis-Inducing Lead Compounds Isolated from Marine Sponge of Potential Relevance in Cancer Treatment". Marine Drugs. 9 (9): 1580–1606. doi: 10.3390/md9091580 . PMC   3225937 . PMID   22131960.
  14. 1 2 Schwartsmann, Gilberto; da Rocha, Adriana Brondani; Berlinck, Roberto GS; Jimeno, Jose (April 2001). "Marine organisms as a source of new anticancer agents". The Lancet Oncology. 2 (4): 221–225. doi:10.1016/s1470-2045(00)00292-8. ISSN   1470-2045. PMID   11905767.
  15. ↑ Anjum, Komal; Abbas, Syed Qamar; Shah, Sayed Asmat Ali; Akhter, Najeeb; Batool, Sundas; Hassan, Syed Shams ul (July 2016). "Marine Sponges as a Drug Treasure". Biomolecules & Therapeutics. 24 (4): 347–362. doi:10.4062/biomolther.2016.067. ISSN   1976-9148. PMC   4930278 . PMID   27350338.
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