Proteolytic and non-proteolytic mechanisms of keratin degradation in Onygena corvina revealed by a proteogenomic approach

Feathers and wool from the poultry and textile industries create massive waste problems because they are very difficult to break down. Researchers discovered that a fungus called Onygena corvina can break down these tough materials using a sophisticated combination of over 70 different proteins. The fungus doesn’t just use cutting enzymes (proteases) but also uses helper proteins that weaken the structure first by removing chemical modifications and breaking certain chemical bonds. Interestingly, the fungus is even more effective when given both feather and wool together, suggesting these waste streams could be processed simultaneously.