Discodermia calyx is a species of bowl-shaped sponge that is found in shallow waters in central and southern Japan.

To keep water flowing in and out, the flagella that line their pores beat in either direction.

When it was first studied it was discovered to be a phosphatase inhibitor, it stops an enzyme that dephosphorylates proteins within the cell.

The toxin extracted from this primitive species enhanced the phosphorylation of cyclin D1.

[2] These among other studies focus on regulation of the toxin as a characteristic of the sponge Discodermia calyx because of its implications in the fight to cure cancer.