Microbial degradation of arsenobetaine, the major water soluble organoarsenic compound occurring in marine animals

The conversion of arsenobetaine into other arsenic compounds by microorganisms occurring in the bottom sediments from coastal waters was demonstrated for the first time. Three arsenic metabolites were observed on high performance liquid chromatogram during incubation at 25 °C for 80 days in 2 kinds of media, 1/5 ZoBell 2216E and a medium composed of inorganic salts. The time course pattern of arsenic metabolites during incubation was fairly different between these 2 media.