RESPONSES OF FRESHWATER ALGAE TO INHIBITORY VANADIUM CONCENTRATIONS: THE ROLE OF PHOSPHORUS1

We found that species-specific differences exist among a variety of freshwater algae and cyanobacteria in the extent to which growth and photosynthesis are inhibited by vanadium. A major factor controlling the degree of inhibition by vanadium was the phosphorus state (P-sufficient vs. P-deficient) of the organisms. In P-sufficient cultures, vanadium was inhibitory when the vanadium concentration exceeded the phosphate concentration. In P-deficient cultures, the depression of photosynthesis by vanadium increased with increasing phosphorus deficiency. Our conclusion that vanadium competed with phosphate for uptake sites was supported by the following three observations: 1) the decreased influx of ³²P-PO ₄ into P-deficient cells in the presence of vanadium, 2) the amelioration of vanadium inhibition of photosynthesis by the addition of phosphate, and 3) the accumulation of vanadium by cells. At vanadium concentrations that severely inhibited growth, the cells of Scenedesmus obliquus (Turp.) Kruger were larger than normal and contained more vacuoles, lipid, and starch bodies than normal cells. Four-celled coenobia were replaced by unicells. Scenedesmus acutusf: alternans Hortobagyi cells from vanadium-inhibited cultures had 7.5 times more vanadium per cell than control cultures and contained numerous granules that did not stain for polyphosphate and may be composed of condensed vanadate molecules. The cellular P quota and turnover time of PO₄in the medium are important regulators of the extent of inhibition by vanadium.     

Identification of a Novel Vanadium-binding Protein by EST Analysis on the Most Vanadium-rich Ascidian, Ascidia gemmata

Ascidians are known to accumulate extremely high levels of vanadium in their blood cells (up to 350 mM). The branchial sac and the intestine are thought to be the first tissues to contact the outer environment and absorb vanadium ions. The concentration of vanadium in the branchial sac and the intestine of the most vanadium-rich ascidian Ascidia gemmata were determined to be 32.4 and 11.9 mM, respectively. Using an expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis of a cDNA library from the intestine of A. gemmata, we determined 960 ESTs and found 55 clones of metal-related gene orthologs, 6 redox-related orthologs, and 18 membrane transporter orthologs. Among them, two genes, which exhibited significant similarity to the vanadium-binding proteins of other vanadium-rich ascidian species, were designated AgVanabin1 and AgVanabin2. Immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography revealed that recombinant AgVanabin1 bound to metal ions with an increasing affinity for Cu(II) > Zn(II) > Co(II) and AgVanabin2 bound to metal ions with an increasing affinity for Cu(II) > Fe(III) > V(IV). To examine the use of AgVanabins for a metal absorption system, we constructed Escherichia coli strains that expressed AgVanabin1 or AgVanabin2 fused to maltose-binding protein and secreted into the periplasmic space. We found that the strain expressing AgVanabin2 accumulated about 13.5 times more Cu(II) ions than the control TB1 strain. Significant accumulation of vanadium was also observed in the AgVanabin2-expressing strain as seen by a 1.5-fold increase.     

Metabolic and molecular action of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trigonella foenum-graecum</Emphasis> (fenugreek) and trace metals in experimental diabetic tissues

Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycaemia resulting in defective insulin secretion, resistance to insulin action or both. The use of biguanides, sulphonylurea and other drugs are valuable in the treatment of diabetes mellitus; their use, however, is restricted by their limited action, pharmaco-kinetic properties, secondary failure rates and side effects. Trigonella foenum-graecum, commonly known as fenugreek, is a plant that has been extensively used as a source of antidiabetic compounds from its seeds and leaf extracts. Preliminary human trials and animal experiments suggest possible hypoglycaemic and anti-hyperlipedemic properties of fenugreek seed powder taken orally. Our results show that the action of fenugreek in lowering blood glucose levels is almost comparable to the effect of insulin. Combination with trace metal showed that vanadium had additive effects and manganese had additive effects with insulin on in vitro system in control and diabetic animals of young and old ages using adipose tissue. The Trigonella and vanadium effects were studied in a number of tissues including liver, kidney, brain peripheral nerve, heart, red blood cells and skeletal muscle. Addition of Trigonella to vanadium significantly removed the toxicity of vanadium when used to reduce blood glucose levels. Administration of the various combinations of the antidiabetic compounds to diabetic animals was found to reverse most of the diabetic effects studied at physiological, biochemical, histochemical and molecular levels. Results of the key enzymes of metabolic pathways have been summarized together with glucose transporter, Glut-4 and insulin levels. Our findings illustrate and elucidate the antidiabetic/insulin mimetic effects of Trigonella, manganese and vanadium.     

Scanning x-ray microscopy of living and freeze-dried blood cells in two vanadium-rich ascidian species,Phallusia mammillata and Ascidia sydneiensis samea

Some ascidians (sea squirts) accumulate the transitional metal vanadium in their blood cells at concentrations of up to 350 mM, about 10(7) times its concentration found in seawater. There are approximately 10 different types of blood cell in ascidians. The identity of the true vanadium-containing blood cell (vanadocyte) is controversial and little is known about the subcellular distribution of vanadium. A scanning x-ray microscope installed at the ID21 beamline of the European Synchroton Radiation Facility to visualize vanadium in ascidian blood cells. Without fixation, freezing or staining realized the visualization of vanadium localized in living signet ring cells and vacuolated amoebocytes of two vanadium-rich ascidian species, Phallusia mammillata and Ascidia sydneiensis samea. A combination of transmission and fluorescence images of signet ring cells suggested that in both species the vacuoles contain vanadium.     

Characterization of a novel vanadium-binding protein (VBP-129) from blood plasma of the vanadium-rich ascidian Ascidia sydneiensis samea

The ascidians, the so-called sea squirts, accumulate high levels of vanadium, a transition metal. Since Henze first observed this physiologically unusual phenomenon about one hundred years ago, it has attracted interdisciplinary attention from chemists, physiologists, and biochemists. The maximum concentration of vanadium in ascidians can reach 350 mM, and most of the vanadium ions are stored in the + 3 oxidation state in the vacuoles of vanadium-accumulating blood cells known as vanadocytes. Many proteins involved in the accumulation and reduction of vanadium in the vanadocytes, blood plasma, and digestive tract have been identified. However, the process by which vanadium is taken in prior to its accumulation in vanadocytes has not been elucidated. In the present study, a novel vanadium-binding protein, designated VBP-129, was identified from blood plasma of the vanadium-rich ascidian Ascidia sydneiensis samea. Although VBP-129 mRNA was transcribed in all A. sydneiensis samea tissues examined, the VBP-129 protein was exclusively localized in blood plasma and muscle cells of this ascidian. It bound not only to VO²⁺ but also to Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺; on the other hand, a truncated form of VBP-129, designated VBP-88, bound only to Co²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺. In a pull-down assay, an interaction between VanabinP and VBP-129 occurred both in the presence and the absence of VO²⁺. These results suggest that VBP-129 and VanabinP function cooperatively as metallochaperones in blood plasma.     

In vitro andin vivo antineoplastic effects of ortrovanadate

In the present study we have demonstrated that orthovanadate at concentrations of 5–10 uM is cytotoxic to proliferating cells including primary cultures and tumour cell lines. However, concentrations of up to 50 uM did not affect the viability of non-proliferating cells. The cytotoxicity appears to be dependent on the vanadium concentration rather than on the oxidation state of vanadium or the vanadium compound. Furthermore, tumour cell lines with different proliferative rates were equally sensitive to orthovanadate cytotoxicity. Although the mechanisms responsible for the cytotoxicity are not known, addition of H₂O₂ potentiated orthovanadate cytotoxicity suggesting that hydroxyl or vanadium radicals may be involved.In vivo subcutaneous injections of orthovanadate into mice containing MDAY-D2 tumours resulted in the inhibition of tumour growth by 85–100%. These data indicated that orthovanadate at concentrations greater than 5 uM has antineoplastic properties and may be useful as a chemotherapeutic agent.     

A Quantitative,Comparative Study of Element Variations Found within the Range of Blood Cells from the Tropical Ascidian Phallusia philippinensis,using the Nuclear Microscope

The present study examines the concentrations of vanadium, bromine and sulphur contained within cryofixed/freeze-dried blood cells of the ascidian Phallusia philippinensis. Elemental profiles of seven cell types were obtained using the National University of Singapore nuclear microscope, in order to ascertain the cell types predominantly involved in accumulation. Morula cells were found to contain the following mean values (in ppm dry weight); 7878 vanadium, 34484 bromine and 61078 sulphur. Signet ring cells contained 5191 vanadium, 23945 bromine and 15281 sulphur. Compartment cells had 606 vanadium, 20700 bromine and 24309 sulphur. Other less abundant cell types such as lymphocytes, macrogranular amoebocytes, carotenoid pigment cells and granular amoebocytes were also analysed and found to contain (in ppm) 4384, 6652, 2366 and 10246 vanadium, 19652, 15630, 5964 and 11735 bromine and 13289, 15309, 3106 and 42968 sulphur, respectively. Sulphur occurred in high levels in all cell types, which could indicate its involvement in the vanadium concentration process, while bromine, incorporated into complexes, may be utilised for anti-fouling rather than as a deterrent to predators.     

Expressed Sequence Tag Analysis of Vanadocytes in a Vanadium-Rich Ascidian, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ascidia sydneiensis samea</Emphasis>

Some species in the family Ascidiidae accumulate vanadium at concentrations in excess of 350 mM, which corresponds to about 10⁷ times higher than that in seawater. In these species signet ring cells, with a single huge vacuole in which vanadium ion is contained, function as vanadium-accumulating cells, vanadocytes. To investigate the mechanism underlying this phenomenon, we performed an expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis of a complementary DNA library from vanadocytes of a vanadium-rich ascidian, Ascidia sydneiensis samea. We determined the nucleotide sequences of 1000 ESTs and performed a BLAST analysis against the SwissProt database. We found 93 clones of metal-related gene homologues, including the ferritin heavy subunit, hemocyanin, and metallothionein. Two ESTs, in particular, exhibited significant similarity to vanabins that have been extracted from A. sydneiensis samea blood cells as low molecular weight vanadium-binding proteins. We have named the genes encoding these ESTs vanabin3 and vanabin4. Immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography revealed that these novel vanabin homologues bind vanadium(IV) ions.     

Characterization of a novel vanadium-binding protein (VBP-129) from blood plasma of the vanadium-rich ascidian Ascidia sydneiensis samea

The ascidians, the so-called sea squirts, accumulate high levels of vanadium, a transition metal. Since Henze first observed this physiologically unusual phenomenon about one hundred years ago, it has attracted interdisciplinary attention from chemists, physiologists, and biochemists. The maximum concentration of vanadium in ascidians can reach 350 mM, and most of the vanadium ions are stored in the +3 oxidation state in the vacuoles of vanadium-accumulating blood cells known as vanadocytes. Many proteins involved in the accumulation and reduction of vanadium in the vanadocytes, blood plasma, and digestive tract have been identified. However, the process by which vanadium is taken in prior to its accumulation in vanadocytes has not been elucidated. In the present study, a novel vanadium-binding protein, designated VBP-129, was identified from blood plasma of the vanadium-rich ascidian Ascidia sydneiensis samea. Although VBP-129 mRNA was transcribed in all A. sydneiensis samea tissues examined, the VBP-129 protein was exclusively localized in blood plasma and muscle cells of this ascidian. It bound not only to VO(2+) but also to Fe(3+), Co(2+), Cu(2+), and Zn(2+); on the other hand, a truncated form of VBP-129, designated VBP-88, bound only to Co(2+), Cu(2+) and Zn(2+). In a pull-down assay, an interaction between VanabinP and VBP-129 occurred both in the presence and the absence of VO(2+). These results suggest that VBP-129 and VanabinP function cooperatively as metallochaperones in blood plasma.     

Identification and biochemical analysis of a homolog of a sulfate transporter from a vanadium-rich ascidian Ascidia sydneiensis samea

Background

Several species of ascidians accumulate extremely high levels of vanadium ions in the vacuoles of their blood cells (vanadocytes). The vacuoles of vanadocytes also contain many protons and sulfate ions. To maintain the concentration of sulfate ions, an active transporter must exist in the blood cells, but no such transporter has been reported in vanadium-accumulating ascidians.

Methods

We determined the concentration of vanadium and sulfate ions in the blood cells (except for the giant cells) of Ascidia sydneiensis samea. We cloned cDNA for an Slc13-type sulfate transporter, AsSUL1, expressed in the vanadocytes of A. sydneiensis samea. The synthetic mRNA of AsSUL1 was introduced into Xenopus oocytes, and its ability to transport sulfate ions was analyzed.

Results

The concentrations of vanadium and sulfate ions in the blood cells (except for the giant cells) were 38 mM and 86 mM, respectively. The concentration of sulfate ions in the blood plasma was 25 mM. The transport activity of AsSUL1 was dependent on sodium ions, and its maximum velocity and apparent affinity were 2500 pmol/oocyte/h and 1.75 mM, respectively.

General significance

This could account for active uptake of sulfate ions from blood plasma where sulfate concentration is 25 mM, as determined in this study.     

The distribution and half-life for retention of vanadium in the organs of normal and diabetic rats orally fed vanadium(IV) and vanadium(V)

The concentration of vanadium in organs of diabetic rats that had been fed vanadium, either as V(IV) or V(V), in their drinking water has been determined. The kidney was found to have the highest concentration, about 185 nmol/g wet tissue. This averages about three times higher than for the liver or spleen, for which concentrations were comparable. The lung, blood plasma, and blood cells tended to have the lowest accumulations of vanadium. A time-course study indicated that the half-life for elimination of vanadium from the bodies of vanadium-fed rats is about 12 d.     

Vanadate-induced gene expression in mouse C127 cells: roles of oxygen derived active species

An underinvestigated aspect of the mitogenic and cell regulatory actions of vanadium is the regulation of gene expression. Among the fifteen cellular genes studied in cultured mouse C127 cells, vanadium (as 10 M sodium vanadate) increased levels of mRNA of the actin and c-Ha-ras to four times control values. These increases represented de novo synthesis of mRNA, since they were inhibited by actinomycin D. Vanadate did not increase mRNA corresponding to c-src, c-mos, c-myc, p53, HSP70, pODC or RB genes, and expression of c-erb A, c-erb B, c-sis and c-fes genes was undetectable whether vanadium was present or not. Expression of a third gene affected by vanadium, c-jun, was augmented by addition of a reductant or oxidant together with the vanadate. Addition of NADH (marginally effective on its own) or H₂O₂ (effective alone) dramatically enhanced the effect of vanadate on c-jun gene expression. Catalase inhibited the effect of NADH partly. The vanadate-stimulated expression of actin and c-Ha-ras mRNA were unaffected by oxidants, reductants, metal chelators, or anti-oxidant enzymes. Evidently vanadate acts by two separate mechanisms on these two categories of genes. The alternate hypothesis that the actions of vanadate on actin and c-Ha-ras were mediated by a protein kinase cascade was inconsistent with the following observations. Neither insulin nor epidermal growth factor increased mRNA levels of c-Ha-ras or actin gene. Neither genistein (a tyrosine kinase inhibitor) nor pretreatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate blocked the actions of vanadate on these genes. Clearly the biological actions of vanadium depend in part on altered expression of genes. Since two of the genes are proto-oncogenes, this mechanism is potentially relevant to the mitogenic responses of cells to vanadium.Abbreviations TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate)     

Ultrastructure and X-Ray Microanalysis of Blood Cells of Ascidia malaca

Ultrastructural studies of Ascidia malaca blood reveal particular cell types, which are characterized by a polymorphism in the organization of the electron dense cytoplasmic material. A new pathway of morula cell differentiation is suggested. X-ray microanalysis shows that vanadium is localized in vacuolated, granular and morular cells. Iron, which is accumulated by this species to a lesser degree than vanadium, is found in vacuolated amebocytes and, together with vanadium, in granular cells. Our results are discussed in the light of the relations between selective metal absorption in blood cells and their specialization and differentiation.     

Biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of vanadium following intraperitoneal administration of vanadocene dichloride to mice

The biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of vanadium following i.p. administration of vanadocene dichloride (VDC), a representative of a new class of organometallic anticancer agents, is reported for Strain A mice. A convenient flameless atomic absorption spectroscopic assay is described and is used to determine kinetic profiles for vanadium in blood, kidney, liver, small intestine and brain tissue for times up to 24 h after administration. For a VDC dose of 80 mg/kg, vanadium concentration decreases rapidly from both the blood and small intestine, and the data can be fit to a phenomenological exponential function (blood: t1/2 = 118 +/- 43 min; small intestine: t1/2(alpha) = 18.10 +/- 0.14 min, t1/2(beta) = 341 +/- 45 min). In contrast, vanadium accumulates in both the kidney and liver up to a maximal concentration (1.12 +/- 0.06 mM and 0.56 +/- 0.06 mM after 12 and 8 h, respectively), and is then excreted with estimated half-lives of 7.9 +/- 0.7 and 12.1 +/- 0.1 h, respectively. No detectable levels of vanadium are found in the brain tissue over the temporal course of the experiment. These results are compared to previous mammalian studies with cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) (CDDP) and related 'second generation' platinum derivatives; there are both qualitative similarities between the vanadium and platinum systems as well as important quantitative differences.     

Accumulation of vanadium by tunicate blood cells occurs via a specific anion transport system

Tunicates, or sea squirts, are known to sequester vanadium to very high concentrations within specialized blood cells. They selectively accumulate the element from seawater against a 10⁶- to 10⁷-fold concentration gradient, and store it mainly as V(III). The mechanism for this selective accumulation involves the facilitated diffusion of vanadate across the blood cell plasma membrane followed by intracellular reduction to a non-transportable cation. Evidence for this mechanism was obtained by studying vanadate and [⁴⁸V]vanadate influx into living blood cells (vanadocytes). Influx of [⁴⁸V]vanadate into the cells is a rapid ( ) process which can be saturated (K_m = 1.4 (±2%) mM). Net vanadate accumulation is equal to isotopic influx, and accumulated vanadate is not released by washing cells with EDTA. Uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation and glycolytic inhibitors have no effect on the rate of influx. Phosphate competes with vanadate for transport, and is itself taken up by the cell. The similar anions, sulfate and chromate, neither inhibit transport, nor are they taken up by the vanadocyte. Influx is inhibited by those stilbene disulfonate derivatives known to bind specifically to the external transport site of the anion exchange protein in the human erythrocyte membrane. During the influx of vanadate, the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal of intracellular vanadyl increases, indicating that transported V(V) is reduced upon entering the cell. The EPR signal of the blood cells at room temperature is characteristic of unbound V(IV), in agreement with reports that reduced vanadate is not bound to a protein or other macromolecule in these cells.     

Comparison of Vanadium-Rich Activity of Three Species Fungi of Basidiomycetes

A comparison of vanadium-rich activity of three species fungi of Basidiomycetes, Ganoderma lucidum, Coprinus comatus, and Grifola frondosa, was studied. By fermentation and atomic absorption spectroscopy analysis, the biomass of G. lucidum and G. frondosa declined rapidly when the concentration of vanadium exceeded 0.3% but the biomass of C. comatus did not decline rapidly until the concentration of vanadium exceeded 0.4% and the content of vanadium accumulated in the mycelia was 3529.3 μg/g. After the mice were administered (intragastrically) with vanadium-rich C. comatus, the blood glucose of alloxan-induced hyperglycemic mice was decreased (p < 0.05) and the body weight of the alloxan-induced hyperglycemic mice was increased gradually. Thus, we selected C. comatus to absorb vanadium and chose 0.4% as the optimal concentration of vanadium for the pharmacological works.     

Vanadium compounds discriminate hepatoma and normal hepatic cells by differential regulation of reactive oxygen species

Our previous study indicated that vanadium compounds can block cell cycle progression at the G1/S phase in human hepatoma HepG2 cells via a highly activated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) signal. To explore their differential action on normal cells, we investigated the response of an immortalized hepatic cell line, L02 cells. The results demonstrated that a higher concentration of vanadium compounds was needed to inhibit L02 proliferation, which was associated with S and G2/M cell cycle arrest. In addition, in contrast to insignificant reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in HepG2 cells, all of the vanadium compounds resulted significant increases in both O ₂ ^·? and H₂O₂ levels in L02 cells. At the same time, ERK and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) as well as cell division control protein 2 homolog (Cdc2) were found to be highly phosphorylated, which could be counteracted with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC). The current study also demonstrated that both the ERK and the JNK pathways contributed to the cell cycle arrest induced by vanadium compounds in L02 cells. More importantly, it was found that although NAC can ameliorate the cytotoxicity of vanadium compounds in L02 cells, it did not decrease their cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells. It thus shed light on the potential therapeutic applications of vanadium compounds with antioxidants as synergistic agents to reduce their toxicities in human normal cells without affecting their antitumor activities in cancer cells.     

Glutathione transferases with vanadium-binding activity isolated from the vanadium-rich ascidian Ascidia sydneiensis samea

Some ascidians accumulate vanadium in vanadocytes, which are vanadium-containing blood cells, at high levels and with high selectivity. However, the mechanism and physiological significance of vanadium accumulation remain unknown. In this study, we isolated novel proteins with a striking homology to glutathione transferases (GSTs), designated AsGST-I and AsGST-II, from the digestive system of the vanadium-accumulating ascidian Ascidia sydneiensis samea, in which the digestive system is thought to be involved in vanadium uptake. Analysis of recombinant AsGST-I confirmed that AsGST-I has GST activity and forms a dimer, as do other GSTs. In addition, AsGST-I was revealed to have vanadium-binding activity, which has never been reported for GSTs isolated from other organisms. AsGST-I bound about 16 vanadium atoms as either V(IV) or V(V) per dimer, and the apparent dissociation constants for V(IV) and V(V) were 1.8 × 10⁻⁴ M and 1.2 × 10⁻⁴ M, respectively. Western blot analysis revealed that AsGSTs were expressed in the digestive system at exceptionally high levels, although they were localized in almost all organs and tissues examined. Considering these results, we postulate that AsGSTs play important roles in vanadium accumulation in the ascidian digestive system.     

Growth inhibition of Thiobacillus thiooxidans by metals and reductive detoxification of vanadium (V)

Summary Vanadium (V), molybdenum (VI), and chromium (VI) have all been found to inhibit the growth of Thiobacillus thiooxidans ATCC 8085. Exponentially growing cultures of the microorganism effectively reduce vanadium (V) to the relatively inocuous vanadyl ion, vanadium (IV), by a first order process with a half-life of about 10 h. Concentrations above the reducing capacity of the culture subsequently prevent further microbial growth. The growth of T. thiooxidans is also inhibited by both molybdate and chromate which can prevent growth in the concentration range 2 to 5×10^–4M. These metal toxicities may play a role in curtailing the growth of this organism in microbially assisted leaching operations.     

Insulin-like effects of vanadium: basic and clinical implications

Most mammalian cells contain vanadium at a concentration of about 20 nM, the bulk of which is probably in the reduced vanadyl (+4) form. Although this trace element is essential and should be present in the diet in minute quantities, no known physiological role for vanadium has been found thus far. In the late 1970s the vanadate ion was shown to act as an efficient inhibitor of Na+,K+-ATPase as well as of other related phosphohydrolases. In 1980 vanadium was reported to mimic the metabolic effects of insulin in rat adipocytes. During the last decade, vanadium has been found to act in an insulin-like manner in all three main target tissues of the hormone, namely skeletal muscles, adipose, and liver. Subsequent studies revealed that the action of vanadium salts is mediated through insulin-receptor independent alternative pathway(s). The investigation of the antidiabetic potency of vanadium soon ensued. Vanadium therapy was shown to normalize blood glucose levels in STZ-rats and to cure many hyperglycemia-related deficiencies. Therapeutic effects of vanadium were then demonstrated in type II diabetic rodents, which do not respond to exogenously administered insulin. Finally, clinical studies indicated encouraging beneficial effects. A major obstacle, however, is overcoming vanadium toxicity. Recently, several organically chelated vanadium compounds were found more potent and less toxic than vanadium salts in vivo. Such a newly discovered organic chelator of vanadium is described in this review.