Characterization of a protease of a feather-degrading Microbacterium species.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize a new feather-degrading bacterium.


RESULTS
The strain kr10 producing a high keratinolytic activity when cultured on native feather broth was identified as Microbacterium sp., based on phenotypical characteristics and 16S rDNA sequence. The bacterium presented optimum growth and feather-degrading activity at pH 7.0 and 30 degrees C. Complete feather degradation was achieved during cultivation. The keratinase was partially purified by gel filtration chromatography. It was optimally active at pH 7.0 and 55 degrees C. The enzyme was inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline, EDTA, p-chloromercuribenzoic acid, 2-mercaptoethanol and metal ions like Hg(2+), Cu(2+) and Zn(2+).


CONCLUSIONS
A new Microbacterium sp. strain was characterized presenting high feather-degrading activity, which appears to be associated to a metalloprotease-type keratinase. This micro-organism has enormous potential for use in biotechnological processes involving keratin hydrolysis.
Thys
R C S
RC
Laboratório de Bioquímica e Microbiologia Aplicada, Departamento de Ciência de Alimentos, ICTA, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Lucas
F S
FS
Riffel
A
A
Heeb
P
P
Brandelli
A
A
D000192:Actinomycetales / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D005241:Feathers / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011200:Poultry / Q000382:microbiology
D007633:Keratins; D010450:Endopeptidases; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; C035855:keratinase