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Expression of a keratinase (kerA) gene from Bacillus licheniformis in Escherichia coli and characterization of the recombinant enzymes

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Abstract

The gene kerA (1,047 bp) encoding the main keratinase from Bacillus licheniformis was cloned into two conventional vectors, pET30α and pET32α, and expressed in Escherichia coli. From SDS-PAGE analysis, the recombinant keratinases were 45 and 55 kDa. They had different optimal pH values (7.5 and 8.5) but the same optimum temperature of 50 °C. The recombinant keratinase produced in E. coli pET30α-kerA was more stable than that produced in E. coli pET32α-kerA, and retained approx. 70 % of its total enzyme activity after 30 min at 70 °C.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Feed Biotechnology Project of Sichuan Province of China with Grant Number 2010GZ0193.

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Correspondence to Daiwen Chen.

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Hu, H., He, J., Yu, B. et al. Expression of a keratinase (kerA) gene from Bacillus licheniformis in Escherichia coli and characterization of the recombinant enzymes. Biotechnol Lett 35, 239–244 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-012-1064-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-012-1064-7

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