spongin


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Related to spongin: osculum, spongocoel

spongin

(spŭn′jĭn)
n.
A sulfur-containing protein similar to collagen that forms the elastic fibrous structure of certain sponges.

spongin

a horny substance secreted by cells in the middle layers of the sponge that acts as a cement joining together the spicules in the body wall or forming a fibrous skeleton in other types.
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Another prediction (based on the assumption that the modification or elaboration of skeletal structures is an energetically expensive process (e.g., Palumbi, 1984, 1986)) is that a positive correlation should exist between sponge spicule or spongin concentrations, and predator presence or attack frequency.
varians, we found that sponges with spongin-fortified skeletons coexisted with predators, but sponges with low levels of spongin were restricted to predator-free habitats (Hill, 1999).
Injured areas were noticeably white (presumably because of increased spongin concentrations), and could be clearly demarcated from uninjured tissue.
Morphological plasticity in the tropical sponge Anthosigmella varians: Responses to predators and wave energy
Spongin formation begins soon after the appearance of the mesohyl, about 24 h after settlement.
Although the spicules are formed within the scleroblasts, the finished spicules free of cells are usually covered by spongin filaments (Jones, 1967; Garrone, 1985).
Metamorphosis of Coeloblastula Performed by Multipotential Larval Flagellated Cells in the Calcareous Sponge Leucosolenia laxa
The concentration of reddish brown pigment granules is no longer evident and spongin fiber formation has begun.
Transdifferentiation of larval flagellated cells to choanocytes in the metamorphosis of the demosponge Haliclona permollis
In addition, the sponge contains some spongin fibers.
It should be noted that the presence of spongin fibers in this species (as well as in the Negombata species mentioned before), which gives the species elastic properties, also supports the non-Hadromerid positioning of the Latrunculiidae, since this order is characterized by the absence of spongin fibers and therefore is finn but non-elastic (Bergquist, 1978; Hartman, 1982).
Reproductive biology, taxonomy, and aspects of chemical ecology of Latrunculiidae (Porifera)

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