Meeting Abstract
Autotomy is a survival mechanism utilized by various organism, in which an individual voluntarily loses a body part in response to an external stressor, often in the form of a predator attack. While this capability is a benefit towards immediate survival, there are notable impediments towards the overall survival of an autotomized individual. Behavioral and physiological alterations are commonly present following the autotomy event. The molecular components aiding in the recuperation of an organism after the loss of a leg have been of particular interest as they are indicative of the organism’s overall immunological activity. In invertebrates, the hemocytes incorporated within hemolymph are important factors in cellular immunity. Within responses to leg autotomy, hemocyte interactions with foreign matter entering through an open wound can be assessed through the various proteins involved with the hemocyte activity. By analyzing the proteins present in the hemolymph of the wolf spider Tigrosa helluo after autotomy, we were able to identify the overall presence and function of the proteins associated with this stress response. Protein concentration and prophenoloxidase activity, a precursor for the organisms encapsulation response, was measured in both the controlled and autotomized female Tigrosa helluo and the control sample of the males. While there was no significant differences between either of the parameters across any of the sample groups, the observed patterns of this preliminary data suggests a possible difference between protein activity in females and males, and a difference in the prophenoloxidase activity in autotomized individuals compared to non-autotomized individuals.
