PRODUCTION OF EXTRACELLULAR KERATINASE BY CHRYSOSPORIUM TROPICUM AND TRICHOPHYTON AJELLOI

Abstract

Keratinous wastes constitute a troublesome environmental contaminant that is produced in large quantities in companies processing of poultry and their further use has ecological significance. We can use for degradation of keratinous wastes enzymes or strains, which produce these enzymes. The aim of this study was isolation of keratinophilic fungi from the soil samples and optimalization of culture conditions of keratinase producing strains in vitro. For the isolation of our strains, we used hair - baiting method. From the all isolated strains, we used for other screening Chrysosporium tropicum (JK39) and Trichophyton ajelloi (JK82). Production of keratinase we monitored with different time of cultivation (7th, 14th, 21th days), sources of carbon (glucose, fructose, mannitol, sucrose), concentration of carbon sources (1%, 2%) and cultivation temperature (20, 25, 30, 37ºC). Keratinase production was studied in a liquid medium containing chicken feathers as a source of keratin. We recorded the maximum production of keratinase (10.51 KU/ml) by Chrysosporium tropicum on 21th day of incubation with 1% glucose at 25ºC.