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Feather degradation by a new keratinolytic Streptomyces sp. MS-2

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Abstract

Seventy different actinomycete isolates were evaluated for their ability to produce keratinase using a keratin-salt agar medium containing ball-milled feather as substrate. A novel feather-degrading isolate obtained from marine sediment produced the highest keratinolytic activity when cultured on broth containing whole feather as a primary source of carbon, nitrogen and energy. Based on phenotypic characterization and analysis of 16S rDNA sequencing the isolate was identified as a Streptomyces sp. MS-2. Maximum keratinase activity (11.2 U/mg protein) was achieved when cells were grown on mineral salt liquid medium containing 1% whole chicken feather adjusted to pH 8 and incubated at 35°C for 72 h at 150 rpm. Reduction of disulphide bridges was also detected, increasing with incubation time. Feather degradation led to an increase in free amino acids such as alanine, leucine, valine and isoleucine. Moreover, methionine and phenylalanine were also produced as microbial metabolites.

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Acknowledgements

Grateful thanks to Prof. Dr. S. A. Sabry, Faculty of Science, Department of Botany, Alexandria University for helpful comments and revision of the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Damanhour Branch, Alexandria University, Damanhour, Egypt

    Mona E. M. Mabrouk

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  1. Mona E. M. Mabrouk
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Correspondence to Mona E. M. Mabrouk.

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Mabrouk, M.E.M. Feather degradation by a new keratinolytic Streptomyces sp. MS-2. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 24, 2331–2338 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-008-9748-9

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