Influence of Temperature, Metal Ions and Organic Solvents on Extracellular Glucansucrase Activity of Leuconostoc mesenteroides AA1

Influence of temperature, metal ions and organic solvents on the behavior of extracellular glucansucrase, produced by Leuconostoc mesenteroides AA1 was studied. Glucansucrase is stable at 30°C and 35°C for 1 hour, whereas loss in enzyme activity was observed at 40°C and 45°C 67 % and 93 % respectively. The enzyme is strongly inhibited by Hg2+ while Cd2+, Fe2+, Ba2+, Na+, K+ and Mg2+ caused moderate inhibition at low concentration but complete inhibition was observed at concentration higher than 5mM. Mn2+ and Co2+ less affected the enzyme and more than 90 % of its activity was detected even at 10mM. In the presence of Ca2+ and Ni2+, the enzyme also retained activity at 1mM and 5mM concentration respectively. It was observed that at different solvent concentrations glucansucrase showed different % relative activity. 50 % relative glucansucrase activity was detected in 20 % DMSO, 50 % 2-propanol, 10 % ethanol and 20 % acetone where as complete loss of activity was detected in ethanolamine.