Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), is an
organosulfur compound with the
formula (CH
3)
2S
+CH
2CH
2COO
-. This
zwitterionic metabolite can be found in marine
phytoplankton,
seaweeds, and some species of terrestrial and aquatic
vascular plants. It functions as an
osmolyte as well as several other physiological and environmental roles have also been identified. DMSP was first identified in the marine red alga
Polysiphonia fastigiata by Frederick Challenger and Margaret Simpson (later Dr. Whitaker)