Bioconversion of Keratin Wastes Using Keratinolytic Microorganisms to Generate Value-Added Products

Figure 2

Structure of keratin [16]: (a) hierarchy of α-keratin showing the assembly from two polypeptide chains (i) to a fibrous structure (iv), (b) TEM micrograph of α-keratin from a sheep horn displaying the composite structure of a crystalline keratin core within an amorphous keratin matrix, and (c) β-keratin with a pleated sheet shape that consists of anti-parallel chains with R-groups that extend between sheets [17].

(a)

(b)