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The origin of arsenobetaine in marine animals
Author(s) -
Edmonds J S,
Francesconi K A
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
applied organometallic chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.53
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1099-0739
pISSN - 0268-2605
DOI - 10.1002/aoc.590020404
Subject(s) - arsenobetaine , chemistry , arsenate , arsine , zwitterion , algae , transformation (genetics) , environmental chemistry , organic chemistry , botany , arsenic , biochemistry , molecule , phosphine , gene , biology , catalysis
Trimethyl(carboxymethyl)arsonium zwitterion (arsenobetaine) is virtually ubiquitous in marine animals consumed by man. Experimental work on the transformation of arsenate to arsenobetaine in the marine environment is reviewed. Current evidence favors the conversion of arsenate to dimethyl(ribosyl)arsine oxides by algae, and the microbially mediated transformation of dimethyl(ribosyl)arsine oxides to arsenobetaine or to its immediate precursors in the sediments. Information about the transfer of arsenobetaine from the sediments to marine animals is lacking.