The captivating world of porifera, commonly referred to as sponges, beckons exploration within the field of molecular biology. As some of the most primitive multicellular organisms, sponges offer invaluable insights into fundamental cellular processes. Our recent identification of the rqua gene in freshwater sponges unveils a fascinating aspect of their biology, known for its role in anaerobic metabolism in protists and bacteria. In the microbial world, rqua functions by modifying ubiquinone (UB) into a distinct form, RQ (rhodoquinone), with a lower redox potential, thereby facilitating anaerobic respiration. While we have confirmed the presence of the rqua gene in the sponge genome, the actual production of the RQ molecule remains largely enigmatic. Preliminary mass spectrometry data suggest the detection of RQ and UB in sponge tissue, yet its origin remains unclear. Furthermore, our recent bioinformatic analyses revealed a notable absence of essential genes for UB production, a precursor of RQ, in freshwater sponges.
This project takes a step toward unravelling the origin of the UB detected in the sponge tissue. Employing transformed Escherichia coli producing a labelled UB, we seek to elucidate whether the detected UB molecule in sponge tissue originates from the sponge itself through autonomous synthesis or if it is incorporated through the dietary food chain.
BSc projectÂ
Contact: Courtney Stairs