Effects of Germanium (Ge) on the silica spicules of the marine sponge Suberites domuncula: Transformation of spicule type.

Germanium (Ge), in the form of germanic acid, at a Ge/Si molar ratio of 1.0 inhibits gemmule development and silica deposition in the marine demosponge Suberites domuncula. Lower Ge/Si ratios inhibit the growth in length of the silica spicules (tylostyles) producing short structures, but with relatively normal morphology and close to normal width; spherical protuberances occasionally occur on these spicules. A few of the short spicules possess completely round rather than pointed tips. Many of the latter develop when Ge is added (pulsed) to growing animals, thus inducing a change in spicule type. These results indicate that the growth in length of the axial filament is more sensitive to Ge inhibition than is silica deposition and that pointed spicule tips normally develop because the growth of the axial filament at the spicule tip is more rapid than silica deposition. Newly formed spicules initiate silica deposition at the spicule head but the absence of Ge-induced bulbs as in freshwater spicules (oxeas) leaves open the question of whether there is a silicification center(s) present in Suberites tylostyles. The morphogenesis of freshwater oxeas and of marine tyolstyles appears fundamentally different-bidirectional growth in the former and unidirectional growth in the latter. X-ray analysis demonstrate relatively uniform Ge incorporation into the silica spicules with considerable variation from spicule to spicule in the incorporated level. Increased silicic acid concentration induces the formation of siliceous spheres, suggesting that the axial filament becomes prematurely encased in silica.