Identification and Quantification of 11 Airborne Biochemicals Emitted by the Brown Recluse and Another Primitive Hunting Spider Using Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction-GC/MS

Authors

Zachary Foulks, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Jennifer Parks, Missouri University of Science and Technology and the Dermatology Center and SpiderTek
William Stoecker, The Dermatology Center and SpiderTek
Charles Kristensen, SpiderPharm
Eileen A. Hebets, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Honglan Shi, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2021

Citation

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 413:26 (2021), pp. 6605–6615.

doi: 10.1007/s00216-021-03626-8

Comments

Copyright © 2021 Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. Used by permission.

Abstract

Loxosceles reclusa, or brown recluse spider, is a harmful household spider whose habitat extends throughout the Midwest in the USA and other regions in the world. The pheromones and other biomolecules that facilitate signaling for brown recluses and other spider species are poorly understood. A rapid and sensitive method is needed to analyze airborne spider signaling biomolecules to better understand the structure and function of these biochemicals in order to control the population of the spiders. In this study, we developed a novel headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME)-GC/MS method to analyze potential pheromones and biomolecules emitted by the brown recluse spider. The method is highly selective and sensitive for biomolecule identification and quantification from a single live spider. Using this novel nondestructive HS-SPME-GC/MS technique, we identified 11 airborne biomolecules, including 4-methylquinazoline, dimethyl sulfone, 2-methylpropanoic acid, butanoic acid, hexanal, 3-methylbutanoic acid, 2-methylbutanoic acid, 2,4-dimethylbenzaldehyde, 2-phenoxyethanol, and citral (contains both isomers of neral and geranial). Some of these airborne biomolecules were also reported as semiochemicals associated with biological functions of other spiders and insects. The method was also applied to study the airborne biochemicals of Plectreurys tristis, another primitive hunting spider with a poor web, enabling quantitation of the same compounds and demonstrating a difference in signaling molecule concentrations between the two species. This method has potential application in the study of pheromones and biological signaling in other species, which allows for the possibility of utilizing attractant or deterrent functions to limit household populations of harmful species.