The trap of a pitcher plant
Home » Proteome analysis of digestive fluids in Nepenthes pitchers

Proteome analysis of digestive fluids in Nepenthes pitchers

Carnivorous plants have developed pitcher modified leaves that can trap and digest various prey. These pitchers produce a digestive fluid composed of proteins, including hydrolytic enzymes.

The trap of a pitcher plant
Nepenthes, always happy for you to drop in. Photo: Angela Sevin / Flickr

Using a proteomic approach on different Nepenthes species together with a transcriptomic analysis, Hehn et al. identified 20 proteins that have never been reported so far for these plants. This study provides evidence that these different species have evolved a specific arsenal of enzymes to digest prey caught in their traps.

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The Annals of Botany Office is based at the University of Oxford.

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