Keratinolytic activity from the broth of a feather-degrading thermophilic Streptomyces thermoviolaceus strain SD8

Keratinolytic activity was detected in the culture broth of feather-degrading thermophilic Streptomyces thermoviolaceus SD8. The crude enzyme was concentrated by precipitation with 80% saturation of ammonium sulphate and desalted by SephadexG-10-120 gel chromatography followed by lyophilization. The specific activity of the enzyme was enhanced 50-fold. PAGE analysis indicated a monomeric form with a molecular weight of 40 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature for production of the enzyme were 8 and 55 degrees C, respectively. The enzyme was stable at a pH range of 6.5-8.5 and up to 65 degrees C. The enzyme could hydrolyse fibrin, muscle, collagen, nail and hair and could produce leucine, threonine and tyrosine from feather. It could be a useful enzyme for waste treatment by promoting hydrolysis of the above substances in the sewage, or it could be used for animal feed preparation.