Abstract: The coelomic cavity is part of the main body plan of annelidsAnnelids. This fluid filled space takes up a considerable volume of the body and serves as an important site of exchange of both metabolites and proteinsProteins. In addition to low molecular substances such as amino acids and glucose and lactate, the coelomic fluid contains different proteinsProteins that can arise through release from adjacent tissues (intestine) or from secretion by coelomic cellsCoelomic cells. In this chapter, we will review the current knowledge about the proteinsProteins in the annelidAnnelids coelomic fluid. Given the number of more than 20,000 extant annelidAnnelids species, existing studies are confined to a relatively few species. Most studies on the oligochaetes are confined to the earthworms—clearly because of their important role in soil biology. In the polychaetesPolychaetes (which might represent a paraphyletic group) on the other hand, studies have focused on a few species of the Nereidid family. The proteinsProteins present in the coelomic fluid serve different functionsFunction and these have been studied in different taxonomic groups. In oligochaetes, proteinsProteins involved antibacterial defense such as lysenin and fetidin have received much attention in past and ongoing studies. In polychaetesPolychaetes, in contrast, proteinsProteins involved in vitellogenesis and reproductionReproduction, and the vitellogenic functionFunction of coelomic cellsCoelomic cells have been investigated in more detail. The metal binding metallothioneins as well as antimicrobial peptidesAntimicrobial peptides, have been investigated in both oligochaetes and polychaetesPolychaetes. In the light of the literature available, this review will focus on lipoproteinsLipoproteins, especially vitellogeninVitellogenin, and proteinsProteins involved in defense reactionsDefense reactions. Other annelidAnnelids groups such as the Pogonophora, Echiura, and Sipuncula (now considered polychaetesPolychaetes), have not received much attention and therefore, this overview is far from being complete.
Publication Year: 2020
Publication Date: 2020-01-01
Language: en
Type: review
Indexed In: ['crossref', 'pubmed']
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Cited By Count: 6
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