Drilodefensins are a class of molecules first found in the gut of earthworms. They belong to the class of dialkylfuransulfonic acids and so far six different

homologs A couple of homologous chromosomes, or homologs, are a set of one maternal and one paternal chromosome that pair up with each other inside a cell during fertilization. Homologs have the same genes in the same loci where they provide points alon ...

have been found.

Origin

They were named based on

megadrile A megadrile is a kind of worm, a mostly terrestrial oligochaete. Megadriles are placed within the superorder Megadrilacea, and include Moniligastrida and Lumbricina (or the order Haplotaxida The Haplotaxida are one of two orders within the ann ...

, the group of terrestrial clitellate annelids including earthworms. The major occurring drilodefensin in earthworms i
drilodefensin 1
(hexylethylfuransulfonic acid, former abbreviated as HEFS).

Mechanism of action

Based on their structure they act as biological

surfactants Surfactants are chemical compounds that decrease the surface tension between two liquids, between a gas and a liquid, or interfacial tension between a liquid and a solid. Surfactants may act as detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, foaming ...

involved in earthworm digestive functioning and protect the earthworm digestive system from the negative impact of plant compounds called

polyphenols Polyphenols () are a large family of naturally occurring organic compounds characterized by multiples of phenol units. They are abundant in plants and structurally diverse. Polyphenols include flavonoids, tannic acid, and ellagitannin, some of ...

which do protein-binding.

References

{{reflist Furans Sulfonic acids