This project is for Collaborative Research at Undergraduate Institutions, involving zoology, microbiology, physics, and chemistry. There are strains of bacteria found in wild birds that produce an enzyme called keratinase, which degrades feathers. This project investigates the microbial ecology of the bacteria, including the interactions with other microbes that occur on the feathers, determines quantitative rates of feather degradation, and compares the molecular structures and specificity of keratinases from different bacterial strains. The project also explores potential agricultural, environmental, and industrial applications for the enzyme. Keratin is a tough structural protein found in feathers and hair. A keratin-digesting enzyme could be used not only to help dispose of the feather waste from the poultry industry, but could be used to increase production of commercial animal food from feather meal. The keratinase from bird bacteria selectively degrades feathers, but leaves hair and wool intact, making it an attractive model for an enzymatic cleaner that could clean but not damage woolen products. This work has a potential impact on a range of fields including ecology, microbiology, zoology, and chemistry, and promises a novel cross-disciplinary experience involving undergraduates in interesting research with both basic and applied aspects.
