Molecular profiling of sponge movement reveals an ancient contractile-inflammatory response

ABSTRACT:

A hallmark of animals is the coordination of whole-body movement. Neurons and muscles are central to this; yet, coordinated movements also exist in sponges that lack these cell types. Sponges are sessile animals with a complex canal system for filter-feeding. They undergo whole-body movements resembling “contractions'' that lead to canal closure and water expulsion. Here, we combine 3D optical coherence microscopy, pharmacology, and functional proteomics to elucidate anatomy, molecular physiology and control of these movements. We show that, counterintuitively, the tissue-level “contractions” are driven by the relaxation of actomyosin stress fibers in epithelial canal cells, which leads to the rapid collapse of the incurrent and inflation of the excurrent system, controlled by an Akt/NO/PKG/A pathway. A concomitant increase in reactive oxygen species and secretion of proteinases and cytokines indicate an inflammation-like state reminiscent of vascular endothelial cells experiencing oscillatory shear stress. This suggests an ancient contractile-inflammatory response of perturbed fluid-carrying systems.

INSTRUMENT(S): Liquid Chromatography MS - positive - hilic, Liquid Chromatography MS - negative - hilic

PROVIDER: MTBLS8137 | MetaboLights | 2026-08-11

REPOSITORIES: MetaboLights