We isolated and characterized novel duck feather-degrading bacteria producing keratinase. Twelve strains were isolated from soil and faces at poultry farm, and decayed feathers. They were identified as Bacillus methylotrophicus, Pseudomonas geniculata, Pseudomonas hibiscicola, Exiquobacterium profundum, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Chryseobacterium indologenes, Bacillus thuringiensis, Thermomonas koreensis, respectively, by phenotypic characters and 16S rRNA gene analysis. Generally, the level of keratinase production was not proportional to feather degradation rate. The highest keratinolytic activity was observed in the culture inoculated with Chryseobacterium indologenes D27. Although all strains did not degrade human hair, strains tested effectively degraded chicken feather(53.8-91.4%), wool(40.4-93.0%) and human nail (51.0-82.9%). These results suggest that strains isolated could be not only used to improve the nutritional value of recalcitrant feather waste but also is a potential candidate for biotechnological processes of keratin hydrolysis.

Abstract
 1. 서 론
 2. 재료 및 방법
  2.1. 우모케라틴 분해미생물의 분리
  2.2. 우모케라틴 분해미생물의 동정
  2.3. 기질 특이성 조사
  2.4. 분석방법
 3. 결과 및 고찰
  3.1. 우모케라틴 분해미생물의 탐색
  3.2. 실험균주의 동정
  3.3. 실험균주의 keratinase 활성
  3.4. 실험균주의 기질 특이성
 4. 결 론
 참 고 문 헌

• 손홍주(부산대학교 생명환경화학과) | Hong-Joo Son (Department of Life Science and Environmental Biochemistry, Pusan National University) Corresponding author
• 박근태(부산대학교 산학협력단) | Geun-Tae Park (Research & University-Industry Cooperation, Pusan National University)
• 정성윤(대구가톨릭대학교 의생명과학과) | Seong-Yun Jeong (Department of Medical Life Science, Catholic University of Daegu)
• 이나리(부산대학교 생명환경화학과) | Na-Ri Lee (Department of Life Science and Environmental Biochemistry, Pusan National University)
• 정진하(부산대학교 생명환경화학과) | Jin-Ha Jeong (Department of Life Science and Environmental Biochemistry, Pusan National University)
• 고태훈(부산대학교 생명환경화학과) | Tae-Hun Go (Department of Life Science and Environmental Biochemistry, Pusan National University)