Arsenobetaine is an organoarsenical and a compatible solute that has been found in various marine animals, such as lobsters and crabs, as well as terrestrial organisms, including earthworms and lichens.1,2 It is protective against B. subtilis cell death induced by high osmolarity or extreme temperatures when used at a concentration of 1 mM.2 Arsenobetaine is non-toxic to mice (LD50 = 10 g/kg).1,2
1.Popowich, A., Zhang, Q., and Le, X.Arsenobetaine: The ongoing mysteryNatl. Sci. Rev.3(4)451-458(2016) 2.Hoffmann, T., Warmbold, B., Smits, S.H.J., et al.Arsenobetaine: An ecophysiologically important organoarsenical confers cytoprotection against osmotic stress and growth temperature extremesEnviron. Microbiol.20(1)305-323(2018)