ISOLATION OF KERATINASE PRODUCING MARINE ACTINOBACTERIA ABSTRACT
ISOLATION OF KERATINASE PRODUCING MARINE ACTINOBACTERIA
ABSTRACT:
Keratinase is a extracellular proteolytic inducible enzyme with the capability of
degrading insoluble keratin substrates. The aim of this study was to isolate keratinase
producing marine actinobacteria. The sample was collected from marine sediment of
rameshwaram coast, and subjected to isolation of actinobacteria on ISP7 medium. The
obtained two isolates were inoculated on skimmed milk agar plate for the primary
screening of proteolytic activity. Isolates showing proteolytic activity in terms of clear
zone around their colony was studied. These isolates was subjected to the secondary
screening on liquid media modified with feather. The degradation activity of feather by
isolates was observed for a period of 10 to 15 days. The keratinolytic property of
actinobacteria was analysed by using feather as a substrate.
Key words: keratinase, Actinobacteria, ISP7 medium, protrolytic activity, skimmed
milk agar, modified liquid medium.
INTRODUCTION:
Keratinase is a extracellular proteolytic inducible enzyme with the capability of
degrading insoluble keratin substrates. Keratin is found in skin, hair, nail, feather and
wool. Keratins exibits in two forms such as hard keratins, found in addition such as
feather, hair, hoof, and nail and soft keratins found in callus and skin1. The keratin
makes feather recalcitrant to proteases like trypsin, pepsin, papain and so on, thus under
goes degradation process in nature12. Degradation of feather protein (keratinase) by
bacteria found in some species of Bacillus3, parasitic fungi4
, Actinobacteria 5, and
some other microorganisms6
. The actinobacteria degradation of insoluble
macromolecules such as cellulose, lignin, chitin, and keratin depends on the secretion
of extracellular enzymes with the ability to act on substrate surfaces.
Keratinolytic actinobacteria treated with feather as several industrial application such as
cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, biotechnological industries, medical therapy
and waste management, leather industries, textile, and feed and poultry industry1
.
Thus, the present study describes the isolation, and screening, of keratinase producing
marine actinobacteria sample collected from rameshwaram coast, Tamilnadu, India.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Sample collection: Marine sediments were collected from rameshwaram coast,
Tamilnadu, India. white chicken feather was collected from chicken processing shop
from surrounding area, cleaned with distilled water several time and k
