Biochemical response of two earthworm taxa exposed to freezing

In this study, we used1H NMR to investigate metabolomic changes in two freeze-tolerant earthworm taxa,Dendrobaena octaedra and one of the genetic lineages ofEisenia sp. aff.nordenskioldi f.pallida. A total of 45 metabolites were quantified. High concentrations of glucose were present in frozen tissues of both taxa. No other putative cryoprotectants were found. We detected high levels of glycolysis end products and succinate in frozen animals, indicating the activation of glycolysis. Concentrations of many other substances also significantly increased. On the whole, metabolic change in response to freezing was much more pronounced in the specimens ofEisenia sp. aff.nordenskioldi f.pallida, including signs of nucleotide degradation.
Source: Journal of Comparative Physiology B: Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology - Category: Physiology Source Type: research