Wiens M
Institut für Physiologische Chemie und Pathobiochemie, Abteilung Angewandte Molekularbiologie, Fachbereich Medizin, Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität, Duesbergweg 6, 55099 Main, Germany.
Z Gerontol Geriatr. 2004 Jun;37(3):190-9. doi: 10.1007/s00391-004-0230-5.
Sponges (phylum Porifera) represent the oldest metazoan taxon. Through a variety of molecular biological methods the existence of elaborated mechanisms such as programmed cell death was established in those organisms that are regarded today as living fossils. Among the apoptotic proteins identified in sponges are the key molecules of apoptotic pathways, effectors (caspases, death domain proteins) and regulators (Bcl-2 homologues) of programmed cell death. Furthermore, when introduced in vertebrate cells one sponge anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 homologue displayed its pro-survival function in the heterologous system, confirming the conserved character of apoptotic cell death. Comparing apoptotic elements of both the most ancient and the most recent of all metazoans might elucidate the evolution of programmed cell death and processes involved, such as aging.
海绵动物（多孔动物门）是最古老的后生动物类群。通过各种分子生物学方法，在那些如今被视为活化石的生物中发现了诸如程序性细胞死亡等精细机制的存在。在海绵动物中鉴定出的凋亡蛋白包括凋亡途径的关键分子、程序性细胞死亡的效应器（半胱天冬酶、死亡结构域蛋白）和调节因子（Bcl-2同源物）。此外，当一种海绵抗凋亡Bcl-2同源物被引入脊椎动物细胞时，它在异源系统中展现出了促生存功能，证实了凋亡细胞死亡的保守特性。比较所有后生动物中最古老和最新的动物的凋亡元件，可能会阐明程序性细胞死亡的进化以及诸如衰老等相关过程。
