Screening of keratinase-producing bacteria from rhizosphere for industrial applications Tunjung Mahatmanto (a*), Untung Murdiyatmo (b), Nabilah Rizka Estiningtyas (a), Ahmad Sultan Shalahuddin (a), Muhammad Yuda Dwitama Agustian (a)
(a) Jurusan Teknologi Hasil Pertanian, Fakultas Teknologi Pertanian, Universitas Brawijaya
Jalan Veteran, Malang 65145, Jawa Timur, Indonesia
*tjmahatmanto[at]ub.ac.id
(b) Lembaga Pengembangan Pertanian Berkelanjutan
Jalan Griya Permata Alam, Ngijo, Karangploso, Kabupaten Malang 65152, Jawa Timur, Indonesia
Abstract
Keratin in hard tissues such as feathers and hair represents a rich source of proteins with significant valorization potential but the recalcitrant nature of keratin to hydrolysis limits their use. From an industrial perspective, microbial keratinases provide a means to access this potential but their local availability is scarce. To address this problem, we screened plant root-associated bacteria for keratinase activity and found three bacterial candidates with keratinase-producing ability. The crude keratinases displayed broad temperature (30-70 degrees Celsius) and pH (5-11) tolerance, highlighting their versatility. The microbial cultures displayed feather-degrading ability at room temperature, highlighting their potential use in an industrial setting with low energy input. Altogether, our study highlights that industrial needs might be addressed by exploring untapped local resources using basic methodologies and simple technologies.
