REPORT- Role of metal ions on the catalytic efficiency of dextran hydrolyzing biocatalyst.

: Hydrothermal spring isolate Bacillus megaterium KIBGE-IB31was utilized to produce dextranase. Enzyme was partially purified up to 11.8 fold after dialysis. Different metals ions were tested to explore their behavior with dextranase. It was noticed that cobalt (Co+2), copper (Cu+2), magnesium (Mg+2), manganese (Mn+2), nickle (Ni+2) and zinc (Zn+2) act as activator whilst potassium (K+), sodium (Na+), barium (Ba+), calcium (Ca+), mercury (Hg+), vanadium (V+2), aluminum (Al+3) and ferric (Fe+3) ions display inhibitory action.