Selectivity and Uptake of Lithium

Lithium salts are widely utilized as psychopharmacological agents for the therapy of bipolar disorders and related illnesses. Although it is readily bioavailable and has just a single biologically relevant oxidation state, its biological activity remains poorly understood. This comment will examine several key issues in this area: 1) Given the chemical properties of lithium, how do ion transport and metal-dependent enzymes mediate the selectivity of lithium and other alkali ions? 2) Is it possible to predict which magnesium-dependent enzymes can be inhibited by lithium? Answers to these questions are now accessible because of the recent structural determinations of ion channels and of magnesium-dependent, lithium-sensitive inositol polyphosphate 1-phosphatase. This comment will attempt to synthesize the dispersed coordination chemistry data for lithium which can help us evaluate these potential targets for lithium therapy