''Monanchora'' is a genus of

demosponge Demosponges or common sponges are sponges of the class Demospongiae (from + ), the most diverse group in the phylum Porifera which include greater than 90% of all extant sponges with nearly 8,800 species A species () is often de ...

s belonging to the family Crambeida. The genus contains 18 species, which have been researched for their potential use in medicine.

Description

Morphology

The species with in ''Monanchora'' vary in their morphology. The genus ''Monanchora'' is defined by belonging to the family

Crambeidae Crambeidae is a family (biology), family of marine demosponges. Identification of members of this family of sponges is based on microscopic examination of the Sponge spicule, spicules in their skeleton. The megascleres consist of peripheral thin ...

while lacking pseudoatrose

spicules Spicules are any of various small needle-like anatomical structures occurring in organisms Spicule may also refer to: *Spicule (sponge), small skeletal elements of sea sponges *Spicule (nematode), reproductive structures found in male nematodes ( ...

. The structure of the species belonging to the genus ''Monachora'' varies from encrusting to lobate to ramose. A typical identifying characteristic of this genus is a canal system that is swollen and has a light colored lining. This canal system collapses when taken out of water. Species in this genus have simple skeletal arrangements that can develop bushes at the surface without the use of ectosomal skeletons. The spicules observed vary among and within species and can be categorized by size into two groups:

megasclere Spicules are structural elements found in most sponges. The meshing of many spicules serves as the sponge's skeleton and thus it provides structural support and potentially defense against predators. Sponge spicules are made of calcium carbon ...

s and microscleres. In some species the microscleres may be reduced, absent or modified, resulting in problematic identification and assignment to the genus ''Monanchora''. The genus ''Monachora'' and the genus ''

Crambe ''Crambe'' is a genus of annual and perennial flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae, native to a variety of habitats in Europe, Turkey, southwest and central Asia and eastern Africa. They carry dense racemes of tiny white or yellow flowe ...

'' are similar in morphology and chemistry. Even though the two are very similar, ''Monanchora'' lack the desma-like spicules that ''Crambe'' species have.

Chemistry

Many species of ''Monanchora'' have been researched for potential uses in the medicine. Some species produce a guanidine derived alkaloid called Monanchorin. The genus ''Crambe'' and ''Monanchora'' have similar chemical makeups.

Distribution

Species belonging to the genus ''Monanchora'' are distributed around the world. They are found in shallow marine or

brackish Brackish water, sometimes termed brack water, is water occurring in a natural environment that has more salinity than freshwater, but not as much as seawater. It may result from mixing seawater (salt water) and fresh water together, as in estuari ...

waters. They have a habitat of sea mounds or knolls.

Discovery

Carter first described the genus ''Monanchora'' based on a washed up specimen of '' Monanchora clathrata''. Due to the wave action, the specimen experienced on the shore, the shape was irregular and its structure was impossible to determine. Carter described the texture of the specimen as “crumb-of-bread” and the color as tawny. The specimen has a “sub-pinlike” skeletal arrangement and a

spicule Spicules are any of various small needle-like anatomical structures occurring in organisms Spicule may also refer to: *Spicule (sponge), small skeletal elements of sea sponges *Spicule (nematode), reproductive structures found in male nematodes ( ...

that was smooth and curved with a pointed shaft.

Medical Use

A study found that ''Monanchora'' and ''Crambe'' produce pyrroloquinoline and

guanidine Guanidine is the compound with the formula HNC(NH2)2. It is a colourless solid that dissolves in polar solvents. It is a strong base that is used in the production of plastics and explosives. It is found in urine predominantly in patients experi ...

-derived

alkaloid Alkaloids are a broad class of natural product, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. Some synthetic compounds of similar structure may also be termed alkaloids. Alkaloids are produced by a large varie ...

s, which potentially contain cytotoxix and antiviral,

HIV-1 The subtypes of HIV include two main subtypes, known as HIV type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV type 2 (HIV-2). These subtypes have distinct genetic differences and are associated with different epidemiological patterns and clinical characteristics. HIV-1 e ...

inhibitors, enzyme inhibitors, receptor antagonists, Calcium ion channel blockers, antifungals, and antimicrobials. These compounds are taxonomic traits of sponges in the

Poecilosclerida Poecilosclerida is an order of the demosponge Demosponges or common sponges are sponges of the class Demospongiae (from + ), the most diverse group in the phylum Porifera which include greater than 90% of all extant sponges with n ...

order. These compounds are studied to investigate the potential use for cancer treatment and other therapeutic areas.

Taxonomy

The following species are recognized: * '' Monanchora alaskensis'' (Lambe, 1895) * ''

Monanchora arbuscula ''Monanchora arbuscula'' is a species of marine demosponge in the family Crambeidae. Description ''Monanchora arbuscula'' is an encrusting or bushy demosponge which is dark red or bright scarlet on its inside and its surface. It forms either a ...

'' (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864) * '' Monanchora bahamensis'' Esteves, de Paula, Lerner, Lôbo-Hajdu & Hajdu, 2018 * '' Monanchora brasiliensis'' Esteves, Lerner, Lôbo-Hajdu & Hajdu, 2012 * '' Monanchora clathrata'' Carter, 1883 * '' Monanchora coccinea'' Esteves, de Paula, Lerner, Lôbo-Hajdu & Hajdu, 2018 * '' Monanchora dianchora'' de Laubenfels, 1935 * '' Monanchora downesae'' Goodwin & Downey, 2021 * '' Monanchora enigmatica'' (Burton & Rao, 1932) * '' Monanchora laevissima'' (Dendy, 1922) * '' Monanchora laminachela'' Lehnert, Stone & Heimler, 2006 * '' Monanchora lipochela'' (Dendy, 1922) * '' Monanchora megasigmifera'' Esteves, de Paula, Lerner, Lôbo-Hajdu & Hajdu, 2018 * '' Monanchora pulchra'' (Lambe, 1895) * '' Monanchora quadrangulata'' (Lévi, 1958) * '' Monanchora stocki'' van Soest, 1990 * '' Monanchora unguiculata'' (Dendy, 1922) * '' Monanchora viridis'' (Kieschnick, 1900)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Monanchora Demospongiae