Increasing evidence on the need of the higher forms of life for vanadium has accumulated during recent years. Model studies have become a very important tool to attain a better understanding of different aspects of the biochemistry of this bioelement. In this account we present the results of our own studies, as well as those of other research groups, on models related to different aspects of its metabolism and detoxification and to vanadium dependent haloperoxidases. Additional information about the interaction of the biologically relevant oxovanadium(IV) cation with important bioligands, such as nucleotides, carbohydrates, phosphates and related systems are also presented.
vanadium; model studies; metabolism; detoxification; haloperoxidases; biologically relevant ligands
