Skip to Content
Merck
  • Is vanadium a more versatile target in the activity of primordial life forms than hitherto anticipated?

Is vanadium a more versatile target in the activity of primordial life forms than hitherto anticipated?

Organic & biomolecular chemistry (2008-03-11)
Dieter Rehder
ABSTRACT

The two predominant forms of vanadium occurring in the geo-, aqua- and biosphere, soluble vanadate(V) and insoluble oxovanadium(IV) (vanadyl), are subject to bacterial activity and transformation. Bacteria belonging to genera such as Shewanella, Pseudomonas and Geobacter can use vanadate as a primary electron acceptor in dissimilation or respiration, an important issue in the context of biomineralisation and soil detoxification. Azotobacter, which can employ vanadium as an essential element in nitrogen fixation, secretes a vanadophore which enables the uptake of vanadium(V). Siderophores secreted by other bacteria competitively (to ferric iron) take up vanadyl and thus interfere with iron supply, resulting in bacteriostasis. The halo-alkaliphilic Thioalkalivibrio nitratireducens possibly uses vanadium as a constituent of an alternative, molybdopterin-free nitrate reductase. Marine macro-algae can generate a variety of halogenated organic compounds by use of vanadate-dependent haloperoxidases, and a molecular vanadium compound, amavadin, from Amanita mushrooms has turned out to be an efficient catalyst in oxidation reactions. The present account is a focused and critical review of the current knowledge of the interplay of bacteria and other primitive forms of life (cyanobacteria, algae, fungi and lichens) with vanadium, with the aim to provide perspectives for applications and further investigations.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Vanadium, powder, −325 mesh, 99.5% trace metals basis
Sigma-Aldrich
Vanadium, foil, thickness 0.127 mm, 99.7% trace metals basis
Sigma-Aldrich
Vanadium, pieces, 1-3 mm, 99.9% trace metals basis
Vanadium, microfoil, disks, 10mm, thinness 0.1μm, specific density 60.8μg/cm2, permanent mylar 3.5μm support, 99.8+%
Vanadium, wire reel, 0.5m, diameter 1.0mm, Stress relieved, 99.8%
Vanadium, wire reel, 1m, diameter 0.25mm, hard, 99.8%
Vanadium, wire reel, 0.2m, diameter 0.1mm, as drawn, 99.8%
Vanadium, wire reel, 0.2m, diameter 0.5mm, as drawn, 99.8%
Vanadium, wire reel, 2m, diameter 0.1mm, as drawn, 99.8%
Vanadium, wire reel, 2m, diameter 0.5mm, as drawn, 99.8%
Vanadium, wire reel, 0.5m, diameter 0.25mm, hard, 99.8%
Vanadium, wire reel, 1m, diameter 0.5mm, as drawn, 99.8%
Vanadium, wire reel, 0.2m, diameter 0.25mm, hard, 99.8%
Vanadium, wire reel, 0.5m, diameter 0.1mm, as drawn, 99.8%
Vanadium, wire reel, 1m, diameter 1.0mm, Stress relieved, 99.8%
Vanadium, wire reel, 5m, diameter 0.25mm, hard, 99.8%
Vanadium, wire reel, 0.2m, diameter 1.0mm, Stress relieved, 99.8%
Vanadium, wire reel, 2m, diameter 0.25mm, hard, 99.8%
Sigma-Aldrich
Vanadium, powder, -100 mesh, 99.9% trace metals basis
Vanadium, wire reel, 2m, diameter 1.0mm, Stress relieved, 99.8%
Vanadium, wire reel, 0.5m, diameter 0.5mm, as drawn, 99.8%
Vanadium, wire reel, 5m, diameter 0.1mm, as drawn, 99.8%
Vanadium, microfoil, disks, 25mm, thinness 0.1μm, specific density 60.8μg/cm2, permanent mylar 3.5μm support, 99.8+%
Vanadium, microfoil, disks, 10mm, thinness 1.0μm, specific density 611μg/cm2, permanent mylar 3.5μm support, 99.8+%
Vanadium, wire reel, 1m, diameter 0.1mm, as drawn, 99.8%
Vanadium, wire reel, 5m, diameter 0.5mm, as drawn, 99.8%
Vanadium, microfoil, disks, 25mm, thinness 1.0μm, specific density 611μg/cm2, permanent mylar 3.5μm support, 99.8+%