Invertebrate connective tissue. Isolation of D-arabinose from sponge acidic polysaccharide

1. d-Arabinose, an extremely rare sugar in the animal kingdom, was isolated from a complex acidic polysaccharide obtained from the connective tissue of the sponge Hippospongia gossypina. A crystalline derivative of arabinose, the 1-benzyl-1-phenylhydrazone, was prepared and characterized by its melting point, optical rotation, and mixed melting point with authentic d- and l-enantiomers. 2. The distribution of arabinose within the animal kingdom is discussed, and a biological role is proposed for the spongonucleotides.