Tunichlorin: a nickel chlorin isolated from the Caribbean tunicate Trididemnum solidum.

K. C. Bible, M. Buytendorp, P. D. Zierath, K. L. Rinehart

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Tunichlorin, a blue-green pigment isolated from the Caribbean tunicate Trididemnum solidum, has been identified as nickel(II) 2-devinyl-2-hydroxymethylpyropheophorbide a by chemical and spectroscopic methods, with confirmation by partial synthesis of dimethyl tunichlorin from chlorophyll a. Nickel chlorins have been reported from geological sources but not from living organisms. Its occurrence in a living system suggests a metabolic role for tunichlorin and may clarify the selective accumulation of nickel by marine tunicates. Because Trididemnum tunicates are associated with algal symbionts, tunichlorin may arise directly from the tunicate, from symbiotic algae, or from tunicate modification of an algal chlorin.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4582-4586
Number of pages5
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume85
Issue number13
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1988

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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