Zoology Faculty Work
Title
Bacterial Degradation of Black and White Feathers
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2004
Publication Title
The Auk: Ornithological Advances
Volume Number
121
Issue Number
3
DOI
10.1642/0004-8038(2004)121[0656:BDOBAW]2.0.CO;2
Abstract
When feather-degrading Bacillus licheniformis is grown in culture, it secretes a keratinase that hydrolyzes the β-keratin matrix of a feather, thereby releasing oligopeptides that dissolve into the medium surrounding the feather and feather-degrading bacilli. These peptides absorb light passed through a sample of medium from which feather fragments, melanin granules, and bacteria have been removed by centrifugation. Samples of medium in which white, nonmelanic feathers are degrading absorb more light than samples of medium in which black, melanic feathers are degrading, which indicates that more oligopeptides are dissolved in medium surrounding white feathers than in medium surrounding black feathers. The differential absorption of light supports the conclusion that B. licheniformis degrades white feathers more rapidly than black feathers.
ISSN
0004-8038
First Page
656
Last Page
659
Recommended Citation
Goldstein, Gerald; Flory, Kelly R.; Browne, Beth Ann; Majid, Samia; Ichida, Jann M.; and Burtt, Edward H. Jr., "Bacterial Degradation of Black and White Feathers" (2004). Zoology Faculty Work. 14.
https://digitalcommons.owu.edu/zool_pubs/14
Link Out URL
https://doi.org/10.1642/0004-8038(2004)121[0656:BDOBAW]2.0.CO;2