Gel filtration analysis of vanadium in Ascidia nigra blood cell lysate

Fractions from a Sephadex gel filtration of homogenized Ascidia nigra blood cell lysate were analyzed for vanadium by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The results were unaffected by temperature from 4-21 degrees C, and by ionic strength in the range 0.09-1.0 M (NaCl). Appreciable loss of vanadium in the supernatant was experienced above pH 2.2. Experiments at pH 2.1 under anaerobic conditions show that the green chromogen and the vanadium-containing bands elute separately. Under these experimental conditions, the vanadium-containing species is of relatively low (congruent to 1,000) molecular weight.