The chemistry and biochemistry of vanadium and the biological activities exerted by vanadium compounds

The properties of vanadium and the biological activities exerted by vanadium compounds were analyzed. Vanadium compounds exhibited increasing numbers of enzyme activities. vanadate was placed by the vanadate-phosphate analogy in a central position to interact effectively with phosphorylases. The ability of V-complexes to act as peroxides, catalases, and nitrogenases was also analyzed. The reactions of V-compounds included redox proceses. But vanadate could not be a perfect transition state analogue and was not able to provide the entire binding affinity, anticipated for ideal analogue.