Biomedical Letters

Isolation and molecular characterization of keratinase producing Bacillus species from soil

Alia Naseer, Madiha Fayyaz*, Musarrat Sharif, Sikander Ghayas Khan, Aaisha Qadir, Abubakar Sarfraz

Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

Bacillus species present in soil contain enzymes which show proteolytic properties to decompose proteins. Soil proteases are mainly provided by soil bacteria. Bacillus species have various industrial uses. The aim of this study was to isolate and molecular characterization of keratinase producing Bacillus species from soil. Bacterial strains have been isolated from soil. Biochemical and molecular characterization have been performed using different biochemical tests (Catalase, Nitrate, simmon citrate, Triple sugar iron tests) and 16S rDNA sequence analysis respectively. Moreover, keratinase test has been performed to check the presence of keratinase enzyme in isolated species. In this study, five different bacterial strains have been isolated from soil. Out of five strains, four were Bacilli and one strain is Citrobacter farmeri. Sequencing results showed that four strains were Gram positive, Bacilli and one strain was Gram negative, Citrobacter farmeri. A keratinase test was performed to see the presence of keratinase enzyme in all strains. The results showed that keratinase was present in Bacillus cereus and Bacillus thuringiensis. This study concluded the significant role of Bacillus species in the production of keratinase enzyme. A keratinase enzyme is very important in leather industry for dehairing. Keratinase enzyme is non pollutant and economical.