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Antioxidant Peptide Production Using Keratin from Feather Waste: Effect of Extraction and Thiol Blocking Method
Mehrnaz Sheikh Hosseini1, Zahra Moosavi-Nejad1, Fatemeh Rezaei Sadrabadi1
1Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran 1993893973, Iran.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|May 14, 2025
Summary
Chicken feather beta-keratin shows significant antioxidant properties. Method C effectively dissolved keratin with minimal structural change, yielding high Fe-chelating and radical scavenging activities for industrial applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Protein Chemistry
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Feathers, rich in beta-keratin, are abundant biomaterials with desirable properties like biocompatibility and mechanical resistance.
- The insolubility of beta-keratin due to disulfide cross-links hinders its application, necessitating effective dissolution methods.
- Understanding keratin's antioxidant potential is crucial for unlocking its value in various industries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate efficient methods for dissolving beta-keratin from chicken feathers.
- To evaluate the antioxidant activities (Fe-chelating and free radical scavenging) of dissolved beta-keratin.
- To explore the role of thiol groups and disulfide bonds in keratin's antioxidant capacity.
Main Methods:
- Dissolution of beta-keratin using three methods: NaOH, sodium sulfide, and urea with 2-Mercaptoethanol (2-ME).
- Determination of relative molecular mass and analysis of protein structures using thin-layer chromatography.
- Assessment of antioxidant activities via Fe-chelating and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assays.
- Investigation of thiol group effects using iodoacetamide and H2O2 as blocking agents.
Main Results:
- Method C (urea and 2-ME) preserved keratin's chemical structure and molecular mass, unlike methods A (NaOH) and B (sodium sulfide).
- Dissolved keratin using method C exhibited high Fe-chelating (93.18%) and DPPH radical scavenging (77.45%) activities.
- Blocking thiol groups affected antioxidant activity, with complex impacts on radical scavenging and Fe-chelating capacities, highlighting the role of disulfide bonds.
Conclusions:
- Beta-keratin extracted from chicken feathers using method C demonstrates significant antioxidant potential.
- The study elucidates the complex role of disulfide bonds in keratin's antioxidant functions.
- Dissolved beta-keratin is a promising candidate for industrial, pharmaceutical, and health applications.
