Intellectual Property Office

Non-Confidential Disclosures

"Psychrotolerant Bacteria and Their Secreted Proteases for Low Temperature Degradation and Conversion of Poultry Feathers into a Usable Resource"

PSU Inv. Disc. No 2000-2371

Field of the Invention:

home cleaning solutions, genetic engineering and design

Inventors:

J.E. Brenchley, J. Loveland-Curtze, E.S. Miller, J. Caldwell

Background:

Collaborative efforts between North Carolina State University (NCSU) and Pennsylvania State University (PSU) have yielded strains of bacteria that secrete proteolytic (keratinolytic) enzymes that assist in the degradation of poultry feathers. The bacteria are capable of using poultry feathers as the sole carbon or nitrogen source for growth at low-temperatures. These isolates secrete an extracellular, cold-active enzyme (protease) involved in the feather degradation. The enzyme differs from subtilisins and keratinases previously described and would allow alternative reaction conditions (pH, ionic strength, buffers, temperature, etc.) to be used during feather degradation. The bacteria have been characterized by the small sub-unit (16S) rRNA sequence and specific chemotaxonomic properties.

Invention description:

Properties of the bacteria and their enzymes are of special importance. The enzymes are active between 5° and 35°C, which is below the 45°- 50°C optimum of more thermophilic bacteria that are currently being used. The bacteria, or applications of their purified enzymes, make it possible to perform feather degradation at ambient temperatures. Some potential applications for these newly described bacteria, their enzymes and their genes include the possible keratin removal from hair, general applications such as a protease in detergents, and home cleaning solutions.

Advantages:

• conversion of keratin and poultry feathers to amino acid feed additives
  
• environmental removal and recycling of feathers and feather by-products
  
• source for genetic engineering and design of other useful proteases
  

Contact:

Mr. Matthew Smith
Sr. Technology Licensing Officer
Intellectual Property Office
113 Technology Center
The Pennsylvania State Univ.
University Park, PA 16802-7000
Phone: (814) 863-1122
Fax: (814) 865-3591
E-mail: mds126@psu.edu