Production and partial characterization of collagenase of Streptomyces exfoliatus CFS 1068 using poultry feather

Streptomyces exfoliatus CFS 1068, an isolate of cultivated field soil, produced maximum collagenase activity (58.19 +/- 0.83 U ml-1 min-1) in 5 days when soybean meal and starch were used as nitrogen and carbon sources, respectively at pH 7 and 30 degrees C in shake cultures (150 rpm). Production of collagenase was higher (40.43 +/- 0.63 U ml(-1) min(-1)) when poultry feathers were used as nitrogen source. Thus, the strain was found to be of biotechnological importance. The purified enzyme showed 30.34 fold increase in collagenase activity and was stable at 70 degrees C for 1h. The enzyme was found to be of serine type.