*3.2. Animal Material*

The sample of the genus *Aulosaccus* (phylum Porifera, class Hexactinellida, order Lyssacinosida, family Rossellidae), 930 g (wet weight), was collected in July 2011 by dredging (with small Sigsbi trail) from a 505-m depth near Iturup Island (Kuril Islands, 45◦01.05/ N, 147◦00.03/ E) during a cruise onboard the r/v "Academik Oparin". The species was identified by Dr A.L. Drozdov (A.V. Zhirmunskii Institute of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch of RAS, Vladivostok, Russia). The collected sponge was stored at −15 ◦C.
