title: Phospholipase A2 in porifera.
abstract: Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) catalytic activity was measured in aqueous extracts of 83 freeze-dried specimens representing 55 marine sponge species collected from the east coast of Australia including the Great Barrier Reef. High levels (>500 u/l) of PLA2 activity (defined as the amount of activity that releases 1 micromol of fatty acid per min) were found in four out of 55 species (7%), moderate activities (100-499 u/l) in 6/55 (11%), low activities (1-99 u/l) in 11/55 (20%) and no PLA2 activity in 34/55 (62%). Species with high PLA2 activity levels included Cymbastela coralliophila (2118 u/l, specific activity 10,590 u/g of protein), Acanthella cavernosa (1318 u/l, specific activity 2470 u/g), Spirastrella vagabunda (1036 u/l, specific activity 1727 u/g and Theonella swinhoei (567 u/l, specific activity 354 u/g). It was postulated that poriferan PLA2 may be involved in eicosanoid metabolism and antimicrobial and toxic defence of the animal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Turku, Finland. timo.nevalainen@utu.fi
authors.forename: Timo J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Nevalainen
authors.forename: Ron J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: John N A
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Hooper
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002384:Catalysis; D015777:Eicosanoids / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D054467:Phospholipases A2; D011161:Porifera / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D015777:Eicosanoids; D010741:Phospholipases A; D054467:Phospholipases A2