Novel serine keratinase from Caldicoprobacter algeriensis exhibiting outstanding hide dehairing abilities.
The current paper reports on the purification of an extracellular thermostable keratinase (KERCA) produced from Caldicoprobacter algeriensis strain TH7C1(T), a thermophilic, anaerobic bacterium isolated from a hydrothermal hot spring in Algeria. The maximum keratinase activity recorded after 24-h of incubation at 50 °C was 21000 U/ml. The enzyme was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation-dialysis and heat treatment (2h at 50 °C) followed by UNO Q-6 FPLC anion exchange chromatography, and submitted to biochemical characterization assays. Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) analysis revealed that the purified enzyme was a monomer with a molecular mass of 33246.10 Da. The sequence of the 23 N-terminal residues of KERCA showed high homology with those of bacterial keratinases. Optimal activity was achieved at pH 7 and 50 °C. The enzyme was completely inhibited by phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) and diiodopropyl fluorophosphates (DFP), which suggests that it belongs to the serine keratinase family. KERCA displayed higher levels of hydrolysis and catalytic efficiency than keratinase KERQ7 from Bacillus tequilensis strain Q7. These properties make KERCA a potential promising and eco-friendly alternative to the conventional chemicals used for the dehairing of goat, sheep, and bovine hides in the leather processing industry.
['Bouacem|Khelifa|K|', 'Bouanane-Darenfed|Amel|A|', 'Zaraî Jaouadi|Nadia|N|', 'Joseph|Manon|M|', 'Hacene|Hocine|H|', 'Ollivier|Bernard|B|', 'Fardeau|Marie-Laure|ML|', 'Bejar|Samir|S|', 'Jaouadi|Bassem|B|']
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence D000818:Animals D002417:Cattle D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors D004795:Enzyme Stability D000068536:Firmicutes D006197:Hair D045482:Hot Springs D006868:Hydrolysis D007700:Kinetics D008670:Metals D010447:Peptide Hydrolases D019163:Reducing Agents D012694:Serine D012867:Skin D013696:Temperature
Keratinase Caldicoprobacter algeriensis Leather processing industry