title: Storage and release of hydrogen cyanide in a chelicerate (Oribatula tibialis).
abstract: Cyanogenesis denotes a chemical defensive strategy where hydrogen cyanide (HCN, hydrocyanic or prussic acid) is produced, stored, and released toward an attacking enemy. The high toxicity and volatility of HCN requires both chemical stabilization for storage and prevention of accidental self-poisoning. The few known cyanogenic animals are exclusively mandibulate arthropods (certain myriapods and insects) that store HCN as cyanogenic glycosides, lipids, or cyanohydrins. Here, we show that cyanogenesis has also evolved in the speciose Chelicerata. The oribatid miteOribatula tibialisuses the cyanogenic aromatic ester mandelonitrile hexanoate (MNH) for HCN storage, which degrades via two different pathways, both of which release HCN. MNH is emitted from exocrine opisthonotal oil glands, which are potent organs for chemical defense in most oribatid mites.
authors.affiliation: Ecological Networks, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brückner
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Raspotnig
authors.affiliation: Ecological Networks, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wehner
authors.affiliation: Clemens-Schöpf-Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany.
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meusinger
authors.affiliation: College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, NY 13210.
authors.forename: Roy A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Norton
authors.affiliation: Ecological Networks, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany; heethoff@bio.tu-darmstadt.de.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heethoff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001692:Biological Transport; D005260:Female; D006856:Hydrogen Cyanide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008925:Mites / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015394:Molecular Structure
chemical_list: D006856:Hydrogen Cyanide
keywords: Oribatida; Oribatula tibialis; chemical defense; cyanogenesis; toxin