Isolation and crystal structure of an arsenic-containing sugar sulphate from the kidney of the giant clam, Tridacna maxima. X-Ray crystal structure of (2S)-3-[5-deoxy-5-(dimethylarsinoyl)-β-D-ribofuranosyloxy]-2-hydroxypropyl hydrogen sulphate

Abstract

(2S)-3-[5-Deoxy-5-(dimethylarsinoyl)-β-D-ribofuranosyloxy]-2-hydroxypropyl hydrogen sulphate, (1a) and 3-[5-deoxy-5-(dimethylarsinoyl)-β-D-ribofuranosyloxy]propylene glycol, (1b), have been isolated from the kidney of the giant clam, Tridacna maxima, collected from Shark Bay, Western Australia. The structure of compound (1a) was determined by X-ray diffraction. The source of the arsenicals (1a) and (1b) is likely to be symbiotic, unicellular, green algae living in the clam tissues. As arsenic-containing sugars [including compound (1b)] have previously been isolated from Ecklonia radiata(a macroalga), it is possible that the production of such compounds is a general response of algae to oceanic arsenate.