Magic of Microbial Enzymes: Earthworm's Gut as a Bioreactor

The majority of the biochemical reactions occurring in every biological system is not spontaneous. All the metabolic activities occurring in living organisms are feasible due to the phenomenon of catalysis, and the catalysts involved are the enzymes. Among the keystone species of terrestrial ecosystem, earthworms play a critical role in regulating the biogeochemical processes of soil elements and maintaining ecosystem health. The gut of the earthworm provides a unique environment for the ingested microorganisms, leading to a multiplex interspecies relationship. Enzymes such as cellulases, nitrate reductases, and acid and alkaline phosphatases, responsible for transforming carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus-containing substrates, are the most frequently procured enzymes from earthworm–microbe associations. The earthworm gut functions as a bioreactor and acts as a hotspot for a variety of microbial enzymes. The present chapter will deal with the understanding of the enzymes that are closely associated with the earthworm–microbes consortium.