title: The Homoscleromorph sponge Oscarella lobularis, a promising sponge model in evolutionary and developmental biology: model sponge Oscarella lobularis.
abstract: Sponges branch basally in the metazoan phylogenetic tree and are believed to be composed of four distinct lineages with still uncertain relationships. Indeed, some molecular studies propose that Homoscleromorpha may be a fourth Sponge lineage, distinct from Demospongiae in which they were traditionally classified. They harbour many features that distinguish them from other sponges and are more evocative of those of the eumetazoans. They are notably the only sponges to possess a basement membrane with collagen IV and specialized cell-junctions, thus possessing true epithelia. Among Homoscleromorphs, we have chosen Oscarella lobularis as a model species. This common and easily accessible sponge is characterized by relatively simple histology and cell composition, absence of skeleton, and strongly pronounced epithelial structure. In this review, we explore the specific features that make O. lobularis a promising homoscleromorph sponge model for evolutionary and developmental researches.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Océanologie de Marseille, Station marine d'Endoume, Aix-Marseille Université - CNRS UMR 6540-DIMAR, rue de la Batterie des Lions, Marseille, France. aereskovsky@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Alexander V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Ereskovsky
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borchiellini
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gazave
authors.forename: Julijana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ivanisevic
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lapébie
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Renard
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vacelet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D015509:Developmental Biology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D008954:Models, Biological; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010802:Phylogeny; D011161:Porifera / Q000502:physiology*; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D024141:Collagen Type IV; D004247:DNA