Biological systems, molybdenum

MOLYBDENUM (In Biological Systems). Molybdenum is required in very low amouni.s by both plants and animals Nutrient imbalances involving molybdenum and copper have caused serious problems in cattle and sheep production. 

A. Sigel and H. Sigel eds, Metal Ions in Biological Systems (Molybdenum and Tungsten Their Roles in Biological Processes) , Marcel Dekker, New York, 2002, Vol. 39. 

Molybdenum because of its unique chemical versatility and unusually high bio-availability has been incorporated widely into biological systems. It is the only second-row transition metal that is essential for most of living organisms and belongs to elements (along with Cu, Cd, Hg, Pb and Cr) potentially hazardous to humans. 

Sakaguchi, T., A. Nakajima, and T. Horikoshi. 1981. Studies on the accumulation of heavy metal elements in biological systems. Accumulation of molybdenum by green microalgae. European Jour. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 12 84-89. 

Oxo complexes dominate the chemistry of molybdenum in its higher oxidation states,5 80,92 93 and play a major role in the catalytic activity of molybdenum in biological systems (see Section 36.6.7). MoIV complexes have been characterized containing the monooxo (MoO 2+ and the trans-dioxomolybdenum(IV) Mo02 cores, but no compound has been isolated analogous to the ds-dioxomolybdenum(VI) species described in Section 36.5. Crystal structure determinations have been accomplished for a number of MoIV complexes, and some typical examples are listed in Table 3.80... 

Sec also Chelates and Chelation Cobalt Copper Gold Hydrate Iron Manganese and Molybdenum (In Biological Systems). 

The principal micronutrients and their deficiencies in soils of the United States are shown in Table 3. Even though the traditional micronutrients may be required only in minute quantities, deficiencies can lead to diseased crops and stunted livestock. See also entries on Boron Copper (In Biological Systems) Iron Manganese Molybdenum (In Biological Systems) and Zinc (In Biological Systems). 

Karaliota A., Kamariotaki M., Hadjipanagioti D. and Aletras V., Molybdenum catecholates as models for Mo in biological systems. 1. Synthesis and spectroscopic study on Mo complexes with 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid. J. Inorg. Biochem. 69 (1998) pp. 79-90. 

---