Abstract

Keratins are the widely distributed fibrous proteins of our environment. Keratinase are proteolytic enzymes responsible for hydrolyzing insoluble keratin largely produced by microorganisms including fungi. The isolation, identification and characterization of a non-dermatophytic keratinolytic fungal strain of Cochliobolus lunatus from the soils of Khairpur Sindh Pakistan were reported. The temperature optimum for this strain production of the enzyme was 30°C, preferable carbon and nitrogen sources were glucose and gelatin respectively, optimum time for keratinase production was 9 days and the activity was suppressed by Ca²⁺ ions.

Key words: Keratinase, fungus, identification, characterization.