Journal of Environmental Biology

Industrial application of keratinase and soluble proteins from feather keratins

 

B. Deivasigamani* and K.M. Alagappan

Centre for Advanced Studies in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Parangipettai-608 502, India

(Received: November 15, 2006; Revised received: June 25, 2007; Accepted: July 02, 2007)

Abstract: Feather keratin is highly resistant to degradation, but some keratinase producing microorganisms can easily degrade these insoluble keratins. These keratinase producing species have an important apnplication in removal of poultry waste and recycled into valuable byproduct. Bacillus sp was screened from soil samples of slaughter house and poultry farm area using azokeratin medium. Highest keratinase activity (122.5 KU ml^-1) was observed at 8.0 pH. Submerged fermentation was carried out at 8.0 pH? up to 5^th days. On 4^th day enzyme production was highest (140 KU ml^-1) with 1% feather (w/v).Crude protein content was high on day 5, around 1.44 mg ml^-1.? 75% of filtrate was found to be crude protein. The molecular weight of this keratinase was 32 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The crude protein from feather has of high nutrient value and could be used as animal feed for livestock and fish feed in aquaculture.

Key word: Feather keratins, Degradation, Keratinase, Crude protein, Animal feed

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