Production of an extracellular keratinase from Chryseobacterium sp. growing on raw feathers

ABSTRACT

The strain Chryseobacterium sp. kr6 shown to be useful for biotechnological purposes such as hydrolysis of poultry feathers and de-hairing of bovine pelts. The effect of temperature, initial pH and media composition on protease production by this keratinolytic strain was studied. The enzyme was produced between 25 and 37ºC, with maximum activity and yield at 30ºC. When protease production was tested in media with different initial pH, maximum activity was observed when cultivation was carried out at 30ºC and initial pH ranging from 6.0 to 8.0. Higher activity was observed when feathers or feather meal were used as growth substrates, followed by soybean meal. The addition of carbohydrates or surfactants to feather broth resulted in decrease in keratinolytic activity.