No essential biological role for lutetium is known, and few reports of microbial interactions with lutetium have been published. Lu³⁺ has been shown to effectively replace Ca²⁺ in the activation of Bacillus subtilis α-amylase (Smolka et al, 1971).

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Darnall DW, Birnbaum ER. Lanthanide ions activate a-amylase. Biochem. 1973;12:3489-91.