MIKROORGANISMUS STAMM W

摘要

The invention relates to a strain W micro-organism with proteolytical properties, an enzyme composition obtainable therefrom, the use of the micro-organism and a process for hydrolysis, especially of keratin. The micro-organism grows anaerobically thermophilically and allows use of keratin-containing substances, e.g. feathers, as the substrate. The enzymes given off by the micro-organism into the medium or localised on or in the micro-organism are capable or dissolving keratin-containing substances like feathers, hair or horn within a few days and are active between 50 and 105 DEG C and at a pH of between 4 and 12. The enzymatic hydrolysis of peptides, especially keratin-containing substances, is conducted at a temperature >/= 70 DEG C and anaerobically; decomposition can also be conducted at a pH 11 and at high temperature. The quantity of enzymes and other conditions can be selected so that the keratin-containing substrate is dissolved completely after 3 hours at the earliest and to the extent of at least 50 wt % after 24 hours. The enzyme composition and the process are especially suitable for the decomposition of feathers into oligopeptides or individual amino-acids.