Studies on haemovanadin. III. Some physiological properties of haemovanadin, the vanadium compound of the blood of Phallusia mamillata Cuv.

A method for obtaining stable solutions of haemovanadin from the blood of Phallusia mamillata Cuv. is described. It is essential that all operations be carried out at pH 2.4. Native haemovanadin reduces cytochrome c both under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Solutions of V 2 O 2 also reduce cytochrome c . The reduction takes place with a stoichiometric ratio V ++ : Fe +++ of one to one. The sperm and ripe eggs of the animal contain cytochrome c . The pigment was not found in other tissues. Cyanide does not inhibit the reducing power of haemovanadin towards cytochrome c or methylene blue.