Comparative metabolomic analysis reveals shared and unique chemical interactions in sponge holobionts

• DOI: 10.1186/s40168-021-01220-9
• Publication Date: 2022-02-01T05:11:14Z
• Authors: Shan Zhang; Weizhi Song; Louis-Félix Nothias; Sneha P. Couvillion; Nicole Webster; Torsten Thomas
• Keywords: Sponge; Holobiont; Chemical Ecology

Sponges are ancient sessile metazoans, which form with their associated microbial symbionts a complex functional unit called holobiont. rich source of chemical diversity; however, there is limited knowledge holobiont members produce certain metabolites and how they may contribute to interactions. To address this issue, we applied non-targeted liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) gas (GC-MS) either whole sponge tissue or fractionated cells from six different, co-occurring species.Several were commonly found enriched in tissue, supporting the notion that them. These include 2-methylbutyryl-carnitine, hexanoyl-carnitine various carbohydrates, be potential food sources for microorganisms, as well antagonistic compounds hymenialdisine eicosatrienoic acid methyl ester. Metabolites mostly observed antioxidant didodecyl 3,3'-thiodipropionate, docosatetraenoic acid, immune-suppressor phenylethylamide. This suggests these mainly produced by holobiont, potentially involved inter-microbial competitions defenses against intruding organisms.This study shows different functionality compartmentalized between hosts provides new insights into interactions underpin function holobionts. Video abstract.