Sponge secondary metabolites: biochemical and ultrastructural localization of the antimitotic agent avarol in Dysidea avaraWE Muller, B Diehl-Seifert, C Sobel, A Bechtold, Z Kljajic and A Dorn
The secondary metabolite avarol, a potent cytostatic and antibacterial sesquiterpenoid hydroquinone, is present in large amounts only in the sponge Dysidea avara (2.7 g avarol/1 kg of fresh material). The present study was designed to determine the storage site of this compound within the organism. Light and transmission electron microscopic studies revealed that avarol is probably stored only in spherular cells. The compound is compartmented in intracellular cytoplasmic vesicles in a paracrystalline form, and therefore can have no inhibitory effect on the sponge cells. Quantitative analysis utilizing high-pressure liquid chromatography revealed that avarol is present at a concentration of 3.2 micrograms/10(6) spherular cells. It appears that avarol is released from the cells into the extracellular space in a merocrine manner. We suggest that it is involved in regulating the bacteria with which the sponge is symbiotically associated.
Volume 34,
Issue 12,
pp. 1687-1690,
12/01/1986
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S. Perovic-Ottstadt, M. Wiens, H.-C. Schroder, R. Batel, M. Giovine, A. Krasko, I. M. Muller, and W. E. G. Muller Arginine kinase in the demosponge Suberites domuncula: regulation of its expression and catalytic activity by silicic acid J. Exp. Biol., February 15, 2005; 208(4): 637 - 646. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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