Unique metabolites protect earthworms against plant polyphenols

Manuel Liebeke (), Nicole Strittmatter, Sarah Fearn, A. John Morgan, Peter Kille, Jens Fuchser, David Wallis, Vitalii Palchykov, Jeremy Robertson, Elma Lahive, David J. Spurgeon, David McPhail, Zoltán Takáts and Jacob G. Bundy ()
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Manuel Liebeke: Imperial College London
Nicole Strittmatter: Imperial College London
Sarah Fearn: Imperial College London
A. John Morgan: Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University
Peter Kille: Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University
Jens Fuchser: Bruker Daltonik GmbH
David Wallis: Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford
Vitalii Palchykov: Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford
Jeremy Robertson: Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford
Elma Lahive: Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
David J. Spurgeon: Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
David McPhail: Imperial College London
Zoltán Takáts: Imperial College London
Jacob G. Bundy: Imperial College London

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract All higher plants produce polyphenols, for defence against above-ground herbivory. These polyphenols also influence the soil micro- and macro-fauna that break down plant leaf litter. Polyphenols therefore indirectly affect the fluxes of soil nutrients and, ultimately, carbon turnover and ecosystem functioning in soils. It is unknown how earthworms, the major component of animal biomass in many soils, cope with high-polyphenol diets. Here, we show that earthworms possess a class of unique surface-active metabolites in their gut, which we term ‘drilodefensins’. These compounds counteract the inhibitory effects of polyphenols on earthworm gut enzymes, and high-polyphenol diets increase drilodefensin concentrations in both laboratory and field populations. This shows that drilodefensins protect earthworms from the harmful effects of ingested polyphenols. We have identified the key mechanism for adaptation to a dietary challenge in an animal group that has a major role in organic matter recycling in soils worldwide.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8869

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