Identification and quantification of Methylated Osmolytes in algae using Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

A method is described for the rapid determination of osmotically significant amounts of the methylated solutes glycine betaine and β-dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) in algal extracts, using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. The method is straightforward, since algal extracts require no further purification prior to analysis. The procedure is sensitive, non-destructive and may also be applied to other quaternary ammonium and tertiary sulphonium compounds.