Characterization and application of keratinolytic paptidases from Bacillus spp.

Solid keratin-rich waste management is one of essential research area in nowadays. Conventional chemical and high thermal keratin waste decomposition methods are fully explored and not enough effective for future biotechnology perspectives. However, traditional keratin-rich waste decomposition methods could be replaced by environmentally-friendly and economical microbial keratin waste biodegradation methods without energy wastage and essential amino acids and nutrition elements loss. In this study BPKer and BAKer keratinolytic peptidases from Bacillus sp. AD-W and Bacillus sp. AD-AA3 strains, respectively, were successfully produced, purified and biochemically characterized. Physical and chemical characterization of native BPKer and BAKer suggested that new keratinolytic peptidases are powerful biocatalysts for efficient keratin waste biodegradation and can replace conventional insufficient non-biological hydrolysis processes without energy, important amino acids and nutritional elements loss. High value bio-active hydrolysis products - peptides obtained from keratin waste biodegradation by BPKer and BAKer are suitable for industrial applications in white and green biotechnology.