Sodium orthovanadate
A vanadium salt that mimics phosphate and inhibits key enzymes.
Sodium orthovanadate is the inorganic compound with the chemical formula Na3VO4. It is a colorless, water-soluble solid that forms a dihydrate and is a salt of the VO3−4 oxyanion. It is produced by dissolving vanadium(V) oxide in a solution of sodium hydroxide, and its structure features tetrahedral VO3−4 anion centers linked to octahedral Na+ cation sites.
- chemical_formula
- Na3VO4
- appearance
- Colorless, water-soluble solid
- dihydrate_formula
- Na3VO4·2H2O
- oxyanion
- VO3−4
- synthesis
- V2O5 + 6 NaOH → 2 Na3VO4 + 3 H2O
- biological_role
- Competitive inhibitor of ATPases, alkaline and acid phosphatases, and protein-phosphotyrosine phosphatases
Lore & Background
Sodium orthovanadate is produced by dissolving vanadium(V) oxide in a solution of sodium hydroxide, yielding the salt with tetrahedral VO3−4 anion centers linked to octahedral Na+ cation sites. Like many oxometalates, orthovanadate undergoes condensation equilibria; at high pH, VO3−4 ions exist in equilibrium with HVO2−4, while at lower pH condensation produces various polyoxovanadates, ultimately forming decavanadate. These reactions have been analyzed by 51V NMR studies.
Reader's Guide
Sodium orthovanadate is significant primarily for its biochemical activities, which stem from its structural mimicry of phosphates. It acts as a competitive inhibitor of ATPases, alkaline and acid phosphatases, and protein-phosphotyrosine phosphatases, with its inhibitory effects reversible by dilution or addition of EDTA. Orthovanadate is activated for use by boiling and adjusting pH to ~10, which depolymerizes decavanadate into the active inhibitor monovanadate. This compound is thus a valuable tool in biochemical research for studying phosphorylation-dependent processes, though its use requires careful handling due to its pH-sensitive equilibria.
Did You Know?
- Sodium orthovanadate forms a dihydrate with the formula Na3VO4·2H2O.
- It is produced by reacting vanadium(V) oxide with sodium hydroxide.
- Orthovanadate is activated by boiling and adjusting pH to ~10 to depolymerize decavanadate into monovanadate.
- Its inhibitory effects on phosphatases can be reversed by dilution or addition of EDTA.
More in Sodium Compounds 1-24
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