Pressure-assisted field-amplified sample injection with reverse migrating micelles for analyzing trace steroids in MEKC

This paper describes a novel method that applies pressure-assisted field-amplified sample injection with reverse migrating micelles (PA-FASI-RMM) for the online concentration of neutral analytes in MEKC with a low-pH BGE. After injection of a plug of water into the separation capillary, negative voltage and positive pressure were simultaneously applied to initialize PA-FASI-RMM injection. The hydrodynamic flow generated by the positive pressure compensated the reverse EOF in the water plug and allowed the water plug to remain in the capillary during FASI with reverse migrating micelles (FASI-RMM) to obtain a much longer injection time than usual, which improved stacking efficiency greatly. Equations describing this injection mode were introduced and were supported by experimental results. For a 450-s online PA-FASI-RMM injection, three orders of magnitude sample enhancement in terms of peak area could be observed for the steroids and an achievement of detection limits was between 1 and 10 ng/mL.

Structural determinants of steroids for cytochrome P450 3A4-mediated metabolism

Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), a major member of cytochrome P450 isoenzymes, metabolizes the majority of steroids in 6beta-position. For the purpose of determining requisite structural features of a series of structurally related steroids for CYP3A4-mediated metabolism, three-dimensional pharmacophore modeling as well as electrotopological state map were conducted for 15 steroids. Though prior studies speculated that the chemical reactivity of the allylic 6beta-position might have a greater influence on CYP3A4 selective 6-hydroxylation than steric constraints in the enzyme, our results reveal that for CYP3A4 steroidal substrates, it is not the chemical reactivity of atoms at 6beta-site, but the pharmacophoric features, i.e. the two hydrophobic rings together with two H-bond donors, that act as the key factors responsible for detemining the CYP3A4 selective 6-hydroxylation of steroids. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Steroids from green alga Chaetomorpha basiretorsa Setchell

Six steroids have been isolated from ethanolic extract of green alga Chaetomorpha basiretorsa Setchell by a combination of repeated normal phase silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 gel column chromatography as well as recrystallization. Using spectroscopic methods including MS and NMR, their structures were determined as beta-lawsaritol (1), saringosterol (2), 24-hydroperoxy-24-vinyl-cholesterol (3), beta-stigmasterol (4), stigmast-4-en-3 alpha, 6 beta-diol (5), 29-hydroxystigmasta-5, 24 (28)-dien-3 beta-ol (6). All these compounds were obtained from this genus for the first time and they were inactive (IC50 > 10 mu g /ml) against KB, Bel-7402, PC-3M, Ketr 3 and MCF-7 cell lines.

Improved suppression of circulating complement does not block acute vascular rejection of pig-to-rhesus monkey cardiac transplants

At present, acute vascular rejection (AVR) remains a primary obstacle inhibiting long-term graft survival in the pig-to-non-human primate transplant model. The present study was undertaken to determine whether repetitive injection of low dose Yunnan-cobra venom factor (Y-CVF), a potent complement inhibitor derived from the venom of Naja kaouthia can completely abrogate hemolytic complement activity and subsequently improve the results in a pig-to-rhesus monkey heterotopic heart transplant model. Nine adult rhesus monkeys received a heterotopic heart transplant from wild-type pigs and the recipients were allocated into two groups: group 1 (n = 4) received repetitive injection of low dose Y-CVF until the end of the study and group 2 (n = 5) did not receive Y-CVF. All recipients were treated with cyclosporine A (CsA), cyclophosphamide (CyP) and steroids. Repetitive Y-CVF treatment led to very dramatic fall in CH50 and serum C3 levels (CH50 < 3 units/C3 remained undetectable throughout the experiment) and successfully prevented hyperacute rejection (HAR), while three of five animals in group 2 underwent HAR. However, the continuous suppression of circulating complement did not prevent AVR and the grafts in group 1 survived from 8 to 13 days. Despite undetectable C3 in circulating blood, C3 deposition was present in these grafts. The venular thrombosis was the predominant histopathologic feature of AVR. We conclude that repetitive injection of low dose Y-CVF can be used to continuously suppress circulating complement in a very potent manner and successfully prevent HAR. However, this therapy did not inhibit complement deposition in the graft and failed to prevent AVR. These data suggest that using alternative pig donors [i.e. human decay accelerating factor (hDAF)-transgenic] in combination with the systemic use of complement inhibitors may be necessary to further control complement activation and improve survival in pig-to-non-human primate xenotransplant model.

四川蜡瓣花、密花樫木、四川溲疏及云南豆腐柴的化学成分研究

本论文对四川蜡瓣花 (Corylopsis willmottiae Rehd. et Wils.)、密花樫木[Dysoxylum densiflorum (Blume) Miq.]、四川溲疏 (Deutzia setchuenensis Franch)及云南豆腐柴 (Premna yunnanensis W. W. Smith)的化学成分进行了研究。通过色谱分离得到44个化合物。主要基于波谱数据鉴定了它们的结构，其中1个为新化合物。 1．从四川蜡瓣花全株的95%乙醇提取物中共分离鉴定了13个化合物，它们是：1-O-(3-O-甲基没食子酸)-岩白菜素(1)、11-O-没食子酰基岩白菜素(2)、 11-O-紫丁香基岩白菜素(3) 、岩白菜素(4)、4-O-没食子酰基岩白菜素(5) 、4,11-O-二没食子酰基岩白菜素 (6)[14]、β-谷甾醇 (7)、acetyl aleuritolic acid (8)、(-)-表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯(9)、对羟基苯甲酮 (10)、 11-香豆酸酰岩白菜素 (11)[19]、丁香酸 (12)和没食子酸 (13)。其中1为新化合物。 2．从密花樫木根的95%乙醇提取物中共分离纯化了13个化合物，它们是：β-白檀酮(14)、richenone (15)、β-谷甾醇 (7)、cabraleadiol (16)、β-香树脂醇 (17)、龙脑香醇酮 (18)、cabraleadiol monoacetate (19)、cabraleone (20)、3β-hydroxy-5 -pregnen-20-one (21)、3β-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one (22)、cabraleahydroxylactone (23)、川楝子甾醇B (24)、表儿茶素 (25)。 3．从四川溲疏全株95%乙醇提取物中共分离11个化合物，鉴定了其中的9个化合物。它们是：β-谷甾醇 (7)、白桦酯醇(26)、齐墩果酸(27)、hydrangetin (28)、肉桂酸 (29)，齐墩果酸-3-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖醛酸苷(30)、β-胡萝卜苷 (31)、齐墩果酸-3-O-（β-D-吡喃葡萄糖醛酸-6-正丁酯）(32)、齐墩果酸-3-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖醛酸-28-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷 (33)。 4．从云南豆腐柴95%乙醇提取物中分离得到12个化合物，分别为白桦脂醇 (25)、7-羟基黄烷酮 (34)、松属素 (35)、2’,4’-羟基查儿酮 (36)、高良姜素-3-甲醚 (37) 、高良姜素-3,7-二甲醚 (38)、异甘草素-4-甲醚 (39)、豆蔻明 (40)、乔松酮 (41)、异甘草素 (42)、arjunolic acid (43)、槲皮素3-O-β-D-木糖苷(44)。 5．综述了1976年以来樫木属植物化学成分和活性研究的概况。 Phytochemical investigation on Corylopsis willmottiae, Dysoxylum densiflorum, Deutzia setchuenensis, and Premna yunnanensis, led to the isolation of 44 compounds, 1 of which was new one. 1. One new compound was isolated from 95% ehanolic extrat of the whole plants of C. willmottiae, identified as 11-O-(3-O-methylgalloyl)-bergenin (1). The twelve known compounds isolated were 11-O-galloylbergenin (2), 11-O-syringylbergenin (3), bergenin (4), 4-O-galloylbergenin (5), 4,11-di-O-galloylbergenin (6), β-sitosterol (7), acetyl aleuritolic acid (8), (-)-epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (9), 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl) ethanone (10), 11-O-coumaroylbergenin (11), syringic acid (12), gallic acid (13). 2. Thirteen compounds were isolated from 95% ethanol extract from the roots of D. densiflorum and identified as β-amyrenone (14), richenone (15), β-sitosterol (7), cabraleadiol (16), β-amyrin (17), hydroxydammarenone-Ⅱ (18), cabraleadiol monoacetate (19), cabraleone (20), 3β-hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one (21), 3β-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one (22), cabraleahydroxylactone (23), toosendansterol B (24) and (-)-epicatechin (25). 3. Eleven compounds were isolated from ethanol extract of D. Setchuenensis. Nine were identified as β-sitosterol (7), betulin (26), oleanolic acid (27), hydrangetin (28), cinnamic acid (29), oleanolic acid 3-O-β-D-glucuronopyranoside (30), β-daucosterol (31), oleanolic acid 3-O-β-D-glucuronopyranoside-6-O-butyl ester）(32), oleanolic acid 3-O-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl-28-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (33). 4. Twelve compounds were isolated from ethanol extract of P. yunnanensis and identified as betulin (26), 7-hydroxyflavanone (34), pinocembrin (35), 2’,4’-dihydroxychalcone (36), galangin 3-methyl ether (37), galangin 3,7-dimethyl ether (38), isoliquiritigenin 4-methyl ether (39), cardamonin (40), pinostrobin (41), isoliquiritigenin (42), arjunolic acid (43), quercetin 3-O-β-D-lyxosopyranoside (44). 5. Chemical constituents and biological activities of the genus Dysoxylum (Meliaceae) were reviewed during 1976-2009.

唐古特瑞香和大果大戟的化学成分研究

本学位论文由两部分共3章组成。第一部分分别报道2种藏药唐古特瑞香和大果大戟化学成分的研究成果，从2种药用植物共分离鉴定了60个不同的化合物，其中12个为新结构，特别有意义的是发现了2个具有同一新骨架的二萜化合物。第二部分概述了大戟科植物多环二萜的研究进展。 第一部分包括第1和2章。在这2章中分别报道了唐古特瑞香（Daphne tangutica Maxim）和大果大戟（Euphorbia wallichii Hook. f. Fl）化学成分的分离纯化与结构鉴定。实验采用正、反相硅胶柱层析、薄层制备及HPLC等分离方法，从唐古特瑞香的根皮中共分离出32个化合物，通过红外、质谱及核磁共振等波谱方法鉴定了其中的31个，结构类型分别属于瑞香二萜类、木脂素类、香豆素类、苯丙素类及甾体类，其中有三个新的瑞香二萜型化合物，经波谱分析将它们的结构分别鉴定为1,2a-二氢-20-棕榈酰瑞香毒素、1,2a-二氢-5b-羟基-6a,7a-环氧-树脂大戟醇-14-苯甲酸酯及1,2b-二氢-5b-羟基-6a,7a-环氧-树脂大戟醇-14-苯甲酸酯，另外还有13个已知化合物为首次从该植物中分离得到。从大果大戟的根部共分离出33个化合物，鉴定了其中的30个，其主要成分为种类丰富的二萜，包括巨大戟烷型、续随子烷型、对映－阿替生烷型、对映－贝壳杉烷型、对映－松香烷型、ent-trachylobane型、对映－异海松烷型及一新骨架五环二萜ent-wallichane型，另外还有香豆素、甾体、三萜和一些简单的小分子化合物。其中新化合物有9个，经波谱分析将它们的结构分别鉴定为5-O-(2E,4E,6E)-癸三烯酰基-3,20-O-二乙酰基巨大戟醇、5-O-(2E,4Z)-癸二烯酰基-3-O-乙酰基-20-去氧巨大戟醇、3-O-(2E,4Z)-癸二烯酰基-5b,6b-氧-交京大戟醇、7-苯甲酰氧基-3,5,15-三乙酰基-续随子醇、ent-trachylobane-3-one-17-oic-acid、3α-羟基-对映-阿替斯-16-烯-14-酮、3α,6-二羟基-对映-异海松-7-烯-2,15-二酮、wallichanol A 和 wallichanol B，其中，wallichanol A 和 wallichanol B属于一新骨架类型的五环二萜。除此以外，另有13个已知化合物为首次从该植物中分离得到。 第2部分即第3章，首次概述了大戟属植物中多环二萜的化学和药理研究进展。 This dissertation is composed by two parts. The first part reports the phytochemical investigation of two Tibetan medicine plants, Daphne tangutica Maxim and Euphorbia wallichii Hook. f. Fl. Sixty different compounds including ten new compounds and two novel diterpenoids possessing a new carbon skeleton were isolated and identified. The second part is a review about the progress of studies on the polycyclic diterpeniods of the plant family of Euphorbia. The first part consists two chapters, which expatiate on the isolation and identification of chemical constituents from D. tangutica and E. wallichii. Thirty-one compounds were isolated from the root barks of D. tangutica by methods of column chromatography (silica gel, including reversed phase), preparative TLC and HPLC, and their structure were identified as nine daphnane diterpenes, six lignans, nine cumarin derivatives, five phenylpropanoid derivatives, a steroids and a benzoate on the basis of spectroscopic methods including IR, MS and NMR. Among them, three are new diterpenes with skeleton of daphnane and the structure were determined as 1,a-dihydro-20-palimoyl-daphnetoxin, 1,2a-dihydro-5b- hydroxy-6a,7a-epoxy-resiniferonol-14-benzoate and 1,2b-dihydro-5b-hydroxy- 6a,7a-epoxy-resiniferonol-14-benzoate. In addition, thirteen known ones were isolated from this plant for the first time. Isolation of the roots of E. wallichii yielded thirty compounds, twenty-four of them were elucidated as diterpenoids, which belong to different skeleton types of ingenol, lathyrane, ent-atisane, ent-kaurane, ent-abietane, ent-trachylobane, ent-isopimarane and a new pentacyclic skeleton ent-wallichane respectively. The remains including a cumarine, a triterpenoid, a steroid and three compounds with small molecule. Nine new compounds were characterized as 5-O-deca-2E,4E,6E- trienoyl-3,20-O-diacetylingenol, 5-O-deca-2E,4Z-dienoyl-3-O-acetyl-20- deoxyingenol, 3-O-deca-2E,4Z-dienoyl-jolkinol-5b,6b-oxide, 7-benzoyl-3,5,15- triacetyl-7-hydroxylathyrol, ent-trachylobane-3-one-17-oic-acid, 3α-hydroxy-ent- atis-16-en-14-one, 3α,6-dihydroxy-ent-isopimarane-7-en-2,15-dione, wallichanol A and wallichanol B, respectively, by means of comprehensive spectroscopic analysis. Among them, wallichanol A and wallichanol B were two notable novel pentacyclic diterpenoids processing a new rearranged carbon skeleton. And more, thirteen ones were firstly reported from this plant. The third chapter summarizes the research development on chemistry and pharmacology of polycyclic diterpenes from the plant family of Euphorbia for the first time.

中药射干的化学成分研究

本学位论文由4章组成。第一章是论文的主体，报道了中药射干的化学成分研究。第二章是中药射干代用品川射干的化学成分研究，并附带报道了西番莲化学成分的研究结果。第三章是射干、川射干及西番莲提取物化学成分串联质谱分析的报道。第四章为综述，概述了射干及鸢尾属植物的化学成分和药理研究进展。 在第一和二章中分别报道了射干（Belamcanda chinensis (L.) DC.）、川射干 （Iris tectorum Maxim.）及西番莲（Passiflora incarnate L.）化学成分的分离纯化与结构鉴定。采用正、反相硅胶柱层析、凝胶柱层析、薄层制备及HPLC等各种分离方法，从三种药用植物中共分离出68个不同的化合物，其中61个的结构得 得以鉴定，另外4个化合物的结构正在鉴定中，3个由于量少且有点杂质未作进一步的鉴定。 中药射干（Rhizoma Belamcandae）为射干植物的干燥根茎，从中共分离出53个化合物，通过红外、质谱及核磁共振等波谱方法鉴定了包括12个新化合物在内的48个，结构类型分别属于iridal型三萜及其新颖的二聚体、异黄酮、黄酮及黄酮醇、香豆素、甾体、芳香酸和脂肪酸及其甘油酯等。新化合物中有两个异黄酮类化合物，其结构分别鉴定为5,7,8,4′-四羟基-6-甲氧基异黄酮和5,6-二羟基-4′-甲氧基异黄酮-7-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷；八个新的iridal型三萜化合物分别鉴定为鸢尾烯（L）、16-甲氧基鸢尾烯、16-去羟基鸢尾烯、2-(E)-16-去羟基鸢尾烯、16-去羟基鸢尾烯B、3-乙酰基-16-去羟基鸢尾烯、iristectoroneL和iristectoroneM；两个结构骨架新颖的双三萜，分别命名为射干素A和射干素B，其分离纯化的困难以及结构的新颖和复杂突显出该论文的科学意义。除这些新化合物外，还有9个已知化合物为首次从中药射干中分离得到。此外，从中药射干的代用品川射干中分离得到7个已知化合物，主要是黄酮类成分及iridal型三萜化合物，其中1个三萜化合物为从射干中分离鉴定的新成分。另外还从西番莲中分离出8个化合物，鉴定了其中的6个，主要为黄酮碳苷。 第三章是关于射干、川射干及西番莲提取物化学成分的ESI-MS-MS分析，在初步探讨了从这些植物中分离鉴定出的一些异黄酮及黄酮碳苷的质谱裂解规律基础上，通过质谱和串联质谱分析，定性和半定量地检测了射干和川射干中主要的异黄酮成分以及西番莲中的黄酮碳苷成分，为这些药材品质的快速鉴定提供了一种简便方法。 第四章概述了射干及鸢尾属药用植物的化学和药理研究进展，特别是对其中异黄酮及三萜类成分的研究进展进行了深入系统的综述。 This dissertation is composed by four chapters. The first and second chapter reports the phytochemical investigation of three medicine plants, Belamcanda chinensis (L.)DC., Iris tectorum Maxim. and Passiflora incarnate L. Sixty eight different compounds were isolated and sixty one of them were identified. The third chapter described rapid ESI-MS-MS analysis of B. chinensis, I. tectorum, and P. incarnate. The forth part is a review about the progress of studies on the chemical constituents from Belamcanda chinensis and Iris species. Fifty-three compounds were isolated from Rhizoma Belamcandae, the rhizomes of B. chinensis by the methods of column chromatography (normal and reversed phase silica gel, Sephadex LH-20), preparative TLC and HPLC. On the basis of spectroscopic methods including IR, ESI-MS, 1-D and 2-D NMR, forty eight of them were identified as seventeen flavonoids, seventeen tritepenoids, one cumarin, five steroids and some benzene derivative etc. Among them, the structures of twelve new compounds were elucidated as 6-methoxy-5,7,8,4′-tetrahydryoxyisoflavoe, 4′-methoxy-5,6-dihydroxyisoflavone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, iristectorene L, 16-methoxyisoiridogermanal, 16-dehydroxyisoiridogermanal, 2-(E)-16-dehydroxy isoiridogermanal, 16-dehydroxyiristectorene B, 3-acetyl-16-dehydroxyisoiridoger- manal, iristectorone L, iristectorone M, belamcandene A and belamcandene B. Last two new compounds are dimer of triterpenoids with a novel carbon skeleton. Beside the new compounds, nine known ones were isolated from this plant for the first time. Isolation of I. tectorum yielded seven compounds. On the basis of spectroscopic methods including ESI-MS, NMR and the comparison with authentic samples, three of them were determined as isoflavone, two of them were triterpenoids, and other two were β-sitosterol and apocynin. All of them are known compounds except one of iridal type triterpenoid, 16-dehydroxyiristectorene B, which also obtained from B. chinensis as a new compound. Isolation of P. incarnate yielded eight compounds. Six of them were determined on the basis of spectroscopic methods including ESI-MS, NMR and the comparison with authentic samples. Four of them are flavone-C-gluconside, and two are steroids. The third chapter describes the tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS-MS) analysis of the isoflavonoids from B. chinensis and I. tectorum, as well as C-glycosyl-flavonoide from P. incarnate, in order to explore the rapid methodology of validating the quality of the herbs. In addition, the fractionation rules of some iosflavonoids and C-glycosyl-flavonoids were discussed. The fourth chapter summarizes the research development on chemistry and pharmacology of medicine plants of B.chinensis and Iris species.

Comparison of steroid substrates and inhibitors of P-glycoprotein by 3D-QSAR analysis

Steroid derivatives show a complex interaction with P-glycoprotein (Pgp). To determine the essential structural requirements of a series of structurally related and functionally diverse steroids for Pgp-mediated transport or inhibition, a three-dimensional quantitative structure activity relationship study was performed by comparative similarity index analysis modeling. Twelve models have been explored to well correlate the physiochemical features with their biological functions with Pgp on basis of substrate and inhibitor datasets, in which the best predictive model for substrate gave cross-validated q(2) = 0.720, non-cross-validated r(2) = 0.998, standard error of estimate SEE = 0.012, F = 257.955, and the best predictive model for inhibitor gave q(2) = 0.536, r(2) = 0.950, SEE = 1.761 and F = 45.800. The predictive ability of all models was validated by a set of compounds that were not included in the training set. The physiochemical similarities and differences of steroids as Pgp substrate and inhibitor, respectively, were analyzed to be helpful in developing new steroid-like compounds. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical constituents of marine medicinal mangrove plant Sonneratia caseolaris

Twenty-four compounds including eight steroids (1-8), nine triterpenoids (9-16, 24), three flavonoids (20-22), and four benzenecarboxylic derivatives (17-19, 23) were isolated and identified from stems and twigs of medicinal mangrove plant Sonneratia caseolaris. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by extensive analysis of their spectroscopic data. Among these metabolites, compounds 1, 4-20 and 22-24 were isolated and identified for the first time from S. caseolaris. In the in vitro cytotoxic assay against SMMC-7721 human hepatoma cells, compound 21 (3',4',5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone) exhibited significant activity with IC50 2.8 mu g/mL, while oleanolic acid (14), 3,3'-di-O-methyl ether ellagic acid (18), and 3,3',4-O-tri-O-methyl ether ellagic acid (19) showed weak activity. None of these compounds displayed significant antibacterial activites.

Antifeedant, antibacterial, and antilarval compounds from the South China Sea seagrass Enhalus acoroides

We investigated chemical constituents and the antifeedant, antibacterial, and antilarval activities of EtOH (ethanol) extracts of the South China Sea seagrass Enhalus acoroides. Eleven pure compounds including four flavonoids and five steroids were obtained. Among these compounds, three flavonoids were antifeedant against second-instar larvae of Spodoptera litura, two flavonoids had antibacterial activity towards several marine bacteria, and one flavonoid showed strong antilarval activity against Bugula neritina larvae. This is the first description of isolation and bioactivity of secondary metabolites from E. acoroides.

Ergosterimide, a new natural Diels-Alder adduct of a steroid and maleimide in the fungus Aspergillus niger

Ergosterimide (1), a natural Diels-Alder adduct of ergosteroid and maleimide, was characterized from the culture extract of Aspergillus niger EN-13, an endophytic fungus isolated from the marine brown alga Colpomenia sinuosa. In addition, four known steroids including (22E,24R)-ergosta-5,7,22-trien-3 beta-ol (2), (22E,24R)-ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3one (3), (22E,24R)-5 alpha,8 alpha-epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien-3 beta-ol (4), and (22E,24R)-ergosta-7,22dien-3 beta,5 alpha,6 beta-triol. (5) were also isolated and identified. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by extensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR and IR spectra and MS data. The plausible biosynthetic pathway of 1 was also discussed. To the best of our knowledge, 1 is the first natural Diels-Alder adduct of steroid and maleimide reported so far. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The unique skeleton of siliceous sponges (Porifera; Hexactinellida and Demospongiae) that evolved first from the Urmetazoa during the Proterozoic: a review

Sponges (phylum Porifera) had been considered as an enigmatic phylum, prior to the analysis of their genetic repertoire/tool kit. Already with the isolation of the first adhesion molecule, galectin, it became clear that the sequences of sponge cell surface receptors and of molecules forming the intracellular signal transduction pathways triggered by them, share high similarity with those identified in other metazoan phyla. These studies demonstrated that all metazoan phyla, including Porifera, originate from one common ancestor, the Urmetazoa. The sponges evolved prior to the Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary (542 million years ago [myr]) during two major "snowball earth events", the Sturtian glaciation (710 to 680 myr) and the Varanger-Marinoan ice ages (605 to 585 myr). During this period the ocean was richer in silica due to the silicate weathering. The oldest sponge fossils (Hexactinellida) have been described from Australia, China and Mongolia and are thought to have existed coeval with the diverse Ediacara fauna. Only little younger are the fossils discovered in the Sansha section in Hunan (Early Cambrian; China). It has been proposed that only the sponges possessed the genetic repertoire to cope with the adverse conditions, e.g. temperature-protection molecules or proteins protecting them against ultraviolet radiation. The skeletal elements of the Hexactinellida (model organisms Monorhaphis chuni and Monorhaphis intermedia or Hyalonema sieboldi) and Demospongiae (models Suberites domuncula and Geodia cydonium), the spicules, are formed enzymatically by the anabolic enzyme silicatein and the catabolic enzyme silicase. Both, the spicules of Hexactinellida and of Demospongiae, comprise a central axial canal and an axial filament which harbors the silicatein. After intracellular formation of the first lamella around the channel and the subsequent extracellular apposition of further lamellae the spicules are completed in a net formed of collagen fibers. The data summarized here substantiate that with the finding of silicatein a new aera in the field of bio/inorganic chemistry started. For the first time strategies could be formulated and experimentally proven that allow the formation/synthesis of inorganic structures by organic molecules. These findings are not only of importance for the further understanding of basic pathways in the body plan formation of sponges but also of eminent importance for applied/commercial processes in a sustainable use of biomolecules for novel bio/inorganic materials.