Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Methods to Inhibit Bacterial Pyomelanin Production and Determine the Corresponding Increase in Sensitivity to Oxidative Stress
Published on: August 31, 2015
Nutritional regulation of keratinolytic activity in Bacillus pumilis
Hong-Joo Son1, Hyean-Cheal Park, Hong-Sung Kim
1School of Applied Life Science, Pusan National University, Miryang, Korea. shjoo@pusan.ac.kr
Abstract:
Bacillus pumilis F3-4 utilized feather as a sole source of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur. Supplementation of the feather medium with glucose or MgSO(4) . 7H(2)O increased keratinolytic protease production (14.6-16.7 U/mg). The synthesis of keratinolytic protease was repressed by an exogenous nitrogen source. Keratinolytic protease was produced in the absence of feather (9.4 U/mg). Feather degradation resulted in sulfhydryl group formation (0.8-2.6 microM). B. pumilis F3-4 effectively degraded chicken feather (75%), duck feather (81%) and feather meal (97%), whereas human nails, human hair and sheep wool under went less degradation (9-15%).
Related Concept Videos
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing
Regulation of Bacterial Virulence
Stringent Response in E. coli
The Skin Microbiota