Characterization of matrix proteins of the coralline demosponge Astrosclera willeyana, - A contribution to understanding the evolution of biomineralization

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Gert Wörheide
• Subject Area: Palaeontology
• Term: from 2005 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5443799

• Final Report Year: 2010

Final Report Abstract

Biomineralization refers to the processes by which organisms form minerals under biological control and organic macromolecules ("organic matrix") are almost always involved in controlling mineralization. Structures formed are often integral and functional parts of the organisms, such as bones, shells, and teeth, some of which show exceptional strength and beauty, often of high commercial value (i.e. pearis). In the geological record, major animal phyla began biomineralizing in a relatively short time interval in the late Precambrian - early Cambrian, about 550-520 Myrs ago, but it is sfill unknown whether the formation of biominerals is a homologous process with an underlying conserved physiological machinery or evolved several times independently. In this project we investigate intracrystalline proteins involved in the biocalcification process of the most ancestral calcifying metazoans, coralline demosponges, using Astrosclera willeyana as a model species. We have isolated three macromolecules of around 35 kDa and one additional band around 54 kDa size by chromatographic fractionation, sequenced their fulllength cDNAs, and subsequently carried out structural-, functional- and evolutionary analyses. Results of this project provide an evolutionary road map to follow diversification of metazoan biocalcification.

Publications

• 2005. December. 9th International Symposium on Biomineralization, Pucon, Chile. "Characterization of Matrix Proteins in the Coralline Demosponge Astrosclera willeyana."
  Wörheide, Macis & Reitner
  
• (2006). A rapidly evolving secretome builds and patterns a sea shell. BMC Biology, 4, 40
  Jackson. D. J., McDougall, C., Green, K., Simpson, F., Wörheide, G., & Degnan, B. M.
  
• 2006. May. 7th International Sponge Symposium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. "Characterization of Matrix Proteins in the Coralline Demosponge Astrosclera willeyana."
  Macis, Reitner & Wörheide
  
• (2007). Characterization of Matrix Proteins in the Coralline Demosponge Astrosclera willeyana Lister 1900. In J. L. Arias & M. S. Fernandez (Eds), Biomineralization: From Paleontology to Materials Science, Editorial Universitaria, Santiago de Chile, pp. 225-236
  Wörheide, G., Macis, L., Jackson, D., & Reitner, J.
  
• (2007). Dynamic expression of ancient and novel molluscan shell genes during ecological transitions. BMC Evolutionary Biology 7:160
  Jackson, D. J., Wörheide, G. & Degnan, B.M.
  
• (2007). Sponge Paleogenomics Reveals an Ancient Role for Carbonic Anhydrase in Skeletogenesis. Science, 316(5833): 1893-1895
  Jackson, D. J., Macis, L., Reitner, J., Degnan, B. M., & Wörheide, G.
  
• 2007. June. Discussion meeting "The Evolution of Animals". The Royal Society London. "Sponge paleogenomics reveals that carbonic anhydrase was a key-component of the skeletogenic toolkit of the last common ancestor of Metazoa"
  Jackson, Macis, Reitner, Degnan & Wörheide
  
• 2008. July. 11th International Coral Reef Symposium, Florida, USA. "Sponge paleogenomics and the evolution of biomineralization"
  Wörheide, Macis, Reitner, Degnan & Jackson