The Occurrence of Thio-Arsenosugars in Some Samples of Marine Algae

Abstract

Environmental Context.Thio-arsenosugars, a novel group of arsenosugars, have previously been reported to occur in marine animals. This paper reports their presence in marine macroalgae and discusses their possible significance in understanding the environmental cycling of arsenic in marine systems. Abstract.The presence of thio-arsenosugars in samples of marine algae is reported. Four thio-arsenosugars were identified which collectively constituted up to 10% of the total arsenic content of the algae, suggesting that algae may be a significant direct source of these compounds for higher organisms. The possible role of thio-arsenosugars in the biotransformation of arsenic in marine systems is briefly discussed.