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Key determinants affecting sheep wool biodegradation directed by a keratinase-producing Bacillus subtilis recombinant strain

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Abstract

OVAT (one variable at a time) approach was applied in this study to screen the most important physicochemical key determinants involved in the process of sheep wool biodegradation. The process was directed by a keratinase-producing Bacillus subtilis DB 100 (p5.2) recombinant strain. Data indicate that, sheep wool could be degraded efficiently in cultures incubated at 30°C, with initial pH of 7 with agitation at 150 rpm. Two times autoclaved alkali treated and undefatted chopped sheep wool is more accessible to biodegradation. B. subtilis recombinant cells could utilize sheep wool as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen. Sheep wool-based modified basal medium II, lacking NH4Cl and yeast extract, could greatly support the growth of these bacterial cells. Sheep wool biodegradation was conducted efficiently in the absence of kanamycin consequently; high stability of the recombinant plasmid (p5.2) represents a great challenge upon scaling up this process. Three key determinants (sheep wool concentration, incubation time and inoculum size) imposing considerable constraints on the process are highlighted. Sheep wool-based tap water medium and sheep wool-based distilled water medium were formulated in this study. High levels of released end products, produced from sheep wool biodegradation are achieved upon using these two sheep wool-based water media. Data indicate that, sheep wool hydrolysate is rich in some amino acids, such as tyrosine, phenylalanine, lysine, proline, isoleucine, leucine, valine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid. Moreover, the resulting sheep wool hydrolysate contains soluble proteins of high and intermediate molecular weights. The present study demonstrates a feasible, cheap, reproducible, efficient and rapid biotechnological approach towards utilization of raw sheep wool waste through a recombinant bacterium.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful to Chemist/Heba-Allah S. Marey, Assistant lecturer of the Institute of Graduate Studies and Research (IGSR), Environmental Studies Department, Alexandria University, Egypt for her help concerning data analysis. The authors are also very grateful to the Scientific Academy for Research and Technology for its financial support.

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  1. Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University, 163 El Horreya Aven., EL Chatby, P.O. Box 830, 21526, Alexandria, Egypt

    Taha I. Zaghloul & Amira M. Embaby

  2. Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

    Ahmed R. Elmahdy

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  1. Taha I. Zaghloul
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Correspondence to Taha I. Zaghloul.

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Zaghloul, T.I., Embaby, A.M. & Elmahdy, A.R. Key determinants affecting sheep wool biodegradation directed by a keratinase-producing Bacillus subtilis recombinant strain. Biodegradation 22, 111–128 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-010-9381-9

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