Research progress of degradation mechanism and utilization of feather keratin

The characteristics and application properties of feather keratin were reviewed and the mechanisms of keratin degradation were briefly discussed. The mechanisms of physical pressure, membrane potential and complex enzymes were introduced and three actions or processes of mechanical keratinolysis, sulphitolysis and proteolysis were discussed. The actions of sulphitolysis and proteolysis functioned in all the degradation process. Keratinase with keratin degrading capability was introduced and the utilization potential of keratin and keratinase were also discussed.