The major skeletal elements in the (Porifera) sponges, are spicules formed from inorganic material. The spicules in the Demospongiae class are composed of hydrated, amorphous silica. Recently an… (More)
The siliceous skeleton of demosponges is constructed of spicules. We have studied the formation of spicules in primmorphs from Suberites domuncula. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission… (More)
Sponges (phylum Porifera) of the class of Demospongiae are stabilized by a siliceous skeleton. It is composed of silica needles (spicules), which provide the morphogenetic scaffold of these… (More)
Dissociated cells from marine demosponges retain their proliferation capacity if they are allowed to form special aggregates, the primmorphs. On the basis of incorporation studies and septin gene… (More)
All metazoan animals comprise a body plan of different complexity. Since--especially based on molecular and cell biological data--it is well established that all metazoan phyla, including the… (More)
The giant basal spicules of the siliceous sponges Monorhaphis chuni and Monorhaphis intermedia (Hexactinellida) represent the largest biosilica structures on earth (up to 3m long). Here we describe… (More)
Levels of 2',5'-oligoadenylate (2-5A) synthetase, bioactive 2-5A, and RNase L were measured in extracts of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 15 individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome… (More)
Sponges were first grouped to the animal-plants or plant-animals then to the Zoophyta or Mesozoa and finally to the Parazoa. Only after the application of molecular biological techniques was it… (More)
Biosilica is a natural polymer, synthesized by the poriferan enzyme silicatein from monomeric silicate substrates. Biosilica stimulates mineralizing activity and gene expression of SaOS-2 cells. To… (More)
Inorganic polymeric phosphate is a physiological polymer that accumulates in bone cells. In the present study osteoblast-like SaOS-2 cells were exposed to this polymer, complexed in a 2:1… (More)