Jasmonate-induced prey response in the carnivorous plant Drosera capensis

Drosera capensis is a carnivorous plant native to South Africa. Central to its prey capture and digestive processes is a complex array of biochemical processes triggering the production of both enzymes and small molecules. These processes are in part activated by the release of jasmonic acid, a plant defense hormone repurposed as a prey detection signal. Here, we use RNASeq and untargeted LC-MS metabolomics to study the response of D. capensis to a feeding stimulus. We confirm the expression of digestive proteins predicted in prior genomic work and show up- and downregulation for a number of enzyme classes in response to jasmonic acid. Metabolomics experiments indicate that many small molecules produced during feeding depend on specific nutrient inputs from prey (and not merely a jasmonic acid stimulus). These results shed light on the molecular basis of plant carnivory and the recruitment of existing biochemical pathways to perform specialized functions.