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Micro- and nano-structural characterization of six marine sponges of the class Demospongiae

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Abstract

The sponges produce their skeletal elements and silicateins are the key enzymes in this process. The mechanism underlying the formation of their silica skeleton and its structural properties are of exceptional interest for applications in technology. Micro- and nano-scale structural analysis of the six marine sponges belonging to Demospongiae [Callyspongia (Cladochalia) plicifera (Lamarck, 1814), Cervicornia cuspidifera (Lamarck, 1815), Cinachyrela sp., Niphates erecta (Duchassaing and Michelotti, 1864), Xestospongia muta (Schmidt, 1870) and Amphimedon compressa (Duchassaing and Michelotti, 1864)] were carried out by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) and Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) techniques. The nano-structural characterizations give some informative evidence about the manner in which silica/silicatein in spicule skeletons is produced by the sponges. The sponge species were successfully discriminated using cluster analysis (HCA) based on FTIR spectra. This study demonstrates and detection of structural differences among sponges and their spicules using combined techniques.

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Acknowledgments

Elif Hilal Şen would like to thank the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) because of her postdoctoral research fellowships.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hacettepe University, Beytepe, 06800, Ankara, Turkey

    Elif Hilal Şen, Semra Ide & Sevgi Haman Bayari

  2. Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, 23173, USA

    Malcolm Hill

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  1. Elif Hilal Şen
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  2. Semra Ide
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Correspondence to Elif Hilal Şen or Sevgi Haman Bayari.

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The authors confirm that there are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication. Funding sources had no involvement in study design; collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the article for publication.

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Şen, E.H., Ide, S., Bayari, S.H. et al. Micro- and nano-structural characterization of six marine sponges of the class Demospongiae. Eur Biophys J 45, 831–842 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00249-016-1127-0

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