Studies On Animal Skin Dehairing By Alkaline Protease Produced From Bacteria Isolated From Soil

Microbes are living organisms that are too small to be seen by the unaided eye however they carry out extremely useful processes that cannot be achieved by other physical and chemical means. Alkaline proteases from those microbes are one of the most important hydrolytic group of enzymes that find varied application in various industrial sectors. The aim of this study was focused on isolation of alkaline protease producing bacteria from the study area which have potential application in dehairing of animal skin. Accordingly 38 alkaliphilic proteolytic bacteria were isolated from the study area Arba Minch University Abay campus. Five isolates were screened which had relatively higher clear zone and further examined for dehairing efficiency of their crude enzymes. Hair removal test was undertaken by incubating skin with 15ml of respective crude enzyme at 40oC. Regarding this one potential isolate was selected and designated as Bacillus sp.AMUa38. Maximum cell growth were observed from this strain at pH 8 1 salt NaCl concentration and 2.5 of inoculum size. Lactose and peptone are potential carbon and nitrogen source for optimum growth of AMUa38. The optimum activity was reached at pH 9 and 500C. The enzyme was stable in the pH range of 7 to 10. The crude enzyme from Bacillus sp. AMUa38 removed hair from goat skin after 6hrs at pH 9 and 400C. These properties suggest that protease from Bacillus sp. AMUa38 could find potential application in leather processing industries which have an economic implication.