Comparison of Spiculogenesis in in Vitro ADCP-primmorph and Explants Culture of Marine Sponge Hymeniacidon perleve with 3-TMOSPU Supplementation

This study aims to test the feasibility of introducing functional chemical groups into biogenic silica spicules by examining the effect of supplementing a silican coupler [3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]urea (3‐TMOSPU) as silica source in the cultures of archaeocytes‐dominant‐cell‐population (ADCP) primmorphs and explants of the marine sponge Hymeniacidon perleve. Analysis by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT‐IR) confirmed that the organic group in 3‐TMOSPU was introduced into silica spicules. By comparing ADCP‐primmorph cultures when supplemented with Na2SiO3, 3‐TMOSPU supplementation showed no notable effect on the primmorphs development and cell locomotion behaviors. A decline in silicatein expression quantified by real‐time RT‐PCR was, however, observed during spiculogenesis. The decline was slower for the 3‐TMOSPU group whereas significantly fewer spicules were formed. When sponge papillae explants were cultured, 3‐TMOSPU supplementation had no negative effect on sponge growth but inhibited the growth biofouling of the diatom Nitzschia closterium. By monitoring the detectable Si concentration, it seemed that 3‐TMOSPU was converted by the sponge and its conversion was related to spiculogenesis. Analysis of spicule dimensional changes indicated that the inhibition of spiculogenesis by 3‐TMOSPU supplementation was less in ADCP‐primmorphs culture due to lower 3‐TMOSPU/detectable Si ratio in the media.