title: Identification of the natural product 2,3,4,5-tetrabromo-1-methylpyrrole in Pacific biota, passive samplers and seagrass from Queensland, Australia.
abstract: Halogenated natural products (HNPs) are frequently detected in marine organisms. High HNP concentrations have previously been found in marine mammals from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, including in the blubber of herbivorous dugongs (Dugong dugon). To identify the source of HNPs we initially focused on the analysis of Australian seagrass (Halophila ovalis) which serves as the principal food source for dugongs. GC/MS analysis of the seagrass indicated the presence of several organobromine compounds. One compound was identified as 2,3,4,5-tetrabromo-1-methylpyrrole (TBMP) by synthesis. Subsequent analysis of semipermeable membrane devices demonstrated that the photo-sensitive TBMP is widespread in the Great Barrier Reef (Queensland, Australia). The detection of larger TBMP concentrations in fish fillets from Chile and traces in mussels from New Zealand indicated that this potential HNP may be distributed throughout the Southern Pacific Ocean.
authors.affiliation: Universität Hohenheim, Institut für Lebensmittelchemie (170b), Garbenstr. 28, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gaul
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bendig
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Olbrich
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rosenfelder
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ruff
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaus
authors.forename: Jochen F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vetter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry*; D002677:Chile; D057894:Coral Reefs; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated / Q000032:analysis*; D031321:Hydrocharitaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D009520:New Zealand; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D011793:Queensland; D020317:Salmo salar / Q000378:metabolism*; D055051:Salt-Tolerant Plants / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated