Aspergillus tamarii expresses an extracellular alkaline protease that we show to be eVective in removing hair from cattle hide. Large quantities of the enzyme will be required for the optimization of the enzymatic dehairing process so the growth conditions for maximum protease expression by A. tamarii were optimized for both solid-state culture on wheat bran and for broth culture. Optimal protease expression occurred, for both cultural media, at initial pH 9; the culture was incubated at 30°C for 96 h using a 5% inoculum. The crude enzyme was isolated, puriWed and characterized using MALDI TOF TOF. The alkaline protease was homologous to the alkaline protease expressed by Aspergillus viridinutans.

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