title: Biotechnological applications and prospective market  of microbial keratinases.
abstract: Keratinases are well-recognized enzymes with the unique ability to attack highly cross-linked, recalcitrant structural proteins such as keratin. Their potential in environmental clean-up of huge amount of feather waste has been well established since long. Today, they have gained importance in various other biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications. However, commercial availability of keratinases is still limited. Hence, to attract entrepreneurs, investors and enzyme industries it is utmost important to explicitly present the market potential of keratinases through detailed account of its application sectors. Here, the application areas have been divided into three parts: the first one is dealing with the area of exclusive applications, the second emphasizes protease dominated sectors where keratinases would prove better substitutes, and the third deals with upcoming newer areas which still await practical documentation. An account of benefits of keratinase usage, existing market size, and available commercial sources and products has also been presented.
authors.forename: Rani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Rinky
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rajput
authors.forename: Richa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Namita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000191:economics* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007218:Industrial Microbiology / Q000191:economics*; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000191:economics* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; C035855:keratinase