The keratinase gene from Bacillus licheniformis MKU3 was cloned and successfully expressed in Bacillus megaterium MS941 as well as in Pichia pastoris X33. Compared with parent strain, the recombinant B. megaterium produced 3-fold increased level of keratinase while the recombinant P. pastors strain had produced 2.9-fold increased level of keratinase. The keratinases from recombinant P. pastoris (pPZK3) and B. megaterium MS941 (pWAK3) were purified to 67.7- and 85.1-folds, respectively, through affinity chromatography. The purified keratinases had the specific activity of 365.7 and 1277.7 U/mg, respectively. Recombinant keratinase from B. megaterium was a monomeric protein with an apparent molecular mass of 30 kDa which was appropriately glycosylated in R pastoris to have a molecular mass of 39 kDa. The keratinases from both recombinant strains had similar properties such as temperature and pH optimum for activity, and sensitivity to various metal ions, additives and inhibitors. There was considerable enzyme stability due to its glycosylation in yeast system. At pH 11 the glycosylated keratinase retained 95% of activity, and 75% of its activity at 80 degrees C. The purified keratinase hydrolyzed a broad range of substrates and displayed effective degradation of keratin substrates. The K. and V a of the keratinase for the substrate N-succinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-pNA was found to be 0.201 mM and 61.09U/s, respectively. Stability in the presence of detergents, surfactants, metal ions and solvents make this keratinase suitable for industrial processes. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.