Discovery of mammalian collagens I and III within ancient poriferan biopolymer spongin

Hermann Ehrlich (), Ivan Miksik, Mikhail V. Tsurkan, Paul Simon, Filip Porzucek, Jakub Dalibor Rybka, Monika Mankowska, Roberta Galli, Christine Viehweger, Erica Brendler, Alona Voronkina, Martyna Pajewska-Szmyt, Aleksei Tabachnik, Konstantin R. Tabachnick, Carla Vogt, Marcin Wysokowski, Teofil Jesionowski, Tomasz Buchwald, Miroslaw Szybowicz, Kinga Skieresz-Szewczyk, Hanna Jackowiak, Alexander Ereskovsky, Amadeus C. S. Alcântara, Alberto M. Santos, Clauber H. S. Costa, Sofia E. Arevalo, Munir S. Skaf and Markus J. Buehler ()
Additional contact information
Hermann Ehrlich: Adam Mickiewicz University
Ivan Miksik: University of Pardubice
Mikhail V. Tsurkan: Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden
Paul Simon: Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids
Filip Porzucek: Adam Mickiewicz University
Jakub Dalibor Rybka: Adam Mickiewicz University
Monika Mankowska: Adam Mickiewicz University
Roberta Galli: Technische Universität Dresden
Christine Viehweger: TU Bergakademie Freiberg
Erica Brendler: TU Bergakademie Freiberg
Alona Voronkina: TU Bergakademie Freiberg
Martyna Pajewska-Szmyt: Adam Mickiewicz University
Aleksei Tabachnik: University of Haifa
Konstantin R. Tabachnick: International Institute of Biomineralogy GmbH
Carla Vogt: TU Bergakademie Freiberg
Marcin Wysokowski: Poznan University of Technology
Teofil Jesionowski: Poznan University of Technology
Tomasz Buchwald: Poznan University of Technology
Miroslaw Szybowicz: Poznan University of Technology
Kinga Skieresz-Szewczyk: Poznań University of Life Sciences
Hanna Jackowiak: Poznań University of Life Sciences
Alexander Ereskovsky: IMBE
Amadeus C. S. Alcântara: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Alberto M. Santos: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)
Clauber H. S. Costa: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)
Sofia E. Arevalo: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Munir S. Skaf: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)
Markus J. Buehler: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Spongin is a fundamental biopolymer that has played a crucial role in the skeletogenesis of keratosan sponges for over 800 million years. This biomaterial had so far remained chemically unidentified and believed to be an enigmatic type of halogenated collagen-keratin-based bioelastomer. Here we show collagen I and III as the main structural components of spongin. Proteomics, 13C solid state NMR and Raman spectroscopy confirm the identity of collagenous domains in spongin with collagen from mammals. Using an HPLC-MS analysis, we found halogenated di- and tri-tyrosines as crosslinking agents in spongin. Using molecular dynamics modeling, we solvated the crystal structures of collagen mimetic peptides for type I and type III collagens in four different systems, including selected brominated crosslinks. The results underscore the complex interplay between the collagen structures and crosslinks, raising intriguing questions about the molecular mechanisms underlying collagen chemistry within spongin as an ancient biocomposite.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57460-y

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