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Toward understanding the morphogenesis of siliceous spicules in freshwater sponge: Differential mRNA expression of spicule-type-specific silicatein genes in Ephydatia fluviatilis

  1. Kurato Mohri1,
  2. Mikiko Nakatsukasa1,
  3. Yoshiki Masuda2,
  4. Kiyokazu Agata1,
  5. Noriko Funayama1,*

Article first published online: 24 SEP 2008

DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.21708

Issue

Developmental Dynamics

Developmental Dynamics

Special Issue: Special Focus on the Extracellular Matrix, in Memory of Dr. Elizabeth D. Hay

Volume 237, Issue 10, pages 3024–3039, October 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Mohri, K., Nakatsukasa, M., Masuda, Y., Agata, K. and Funayama, N. (2008), Toward understanding the morphogenesis of siliceous spicules in freshwater sponge: Differential mRNA expression of spicule-type-specific silicatein genes in Ephydatia fluviatilis. Dev. Dyn., 237: 3024–3039. doi: 10.1002/dvdy.21708

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake, Sakyo-ku Kyoto, Japan

  2. 2

    Department of Biology, Kawasaki Medical School, Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan

*Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake, Sakyo-ku Kyoto 606-8502, Japan

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 24 SEP 2008
  2. Article first published online: 24 SEP 2008
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 14 JUL 2008

Funded by

  • The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT)
  • Grant-in-aid for Exploratory Research, Grant-in-aid for Creative Scientific Research, Global Center of Excellence Program (A06)
  • Naito Foundation

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Keywords:

  • sponge;
  • porifera;
  • spicules;
  • silicatein;
  • sclerocytes;
  • spicule formation;
  • biomineralization

Abstract

Siliceous spicules of sponges are morphologically diverse and provide good models for understanding the morphogenesis of biomineralized products. The silica deposition enzyme silicatein is a component of siliceous spicules of sponges and is thought to be the key molecule determining the morphology of spicules. Here, we focused on the silicateins of the freshwater sponge Ephydatia fluviatilis, which has two types of morphologically and functionally different spicules, called megascleres and gemmoscleres. We isolated six isoforms of silicateins and examined their mRNA expression in the cells producing megascleres and gemmoscleres. The spicule-type-specific mRNA expression of these isoforms and differential expression during spicule development suggest that the characteristic morphology of spicules is due to the specific properties and combinatory functions of silicatein isoforms. Developmental Dynamics 237:3024–3039, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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