Production of keratinase enzyme by thermophilic Streptomyces thermovulgaris

ABSTRACT

Seventeen thermophilic actinomycete isolates were tested for their keratinolytic activities. Results indicate that five isolates have keratinase activity. Streptomyces thermovulgaris proved to be superior in keratinase formation and it was selected for the subsequent investigation. The optimum conditions for keratinase production and feather solubilizaiton of S. thermovulgaris were studied. Data revealed that S. thermovulgaris grew better with good yield of keratinase activity by growing it on the fementation medium [100 m.500 ml flasks], in which the nitrogen and the carbon sources were replaced with sterile chicken feather pieces [1.5 g%], 1.0 g% starch and 0.1 g% K[2] HPO[4] using tap water with a homogenized spore suspension [containing approximately 8.2 x 10[-3] spores ml[-1]] of 3 days old culture. Inoculated flasks were incubated at 50°C for 4 days under static conditions