Keratinases are enzymes belonging to the serine hydrolases group which are capable of degradation of keratin, an insoluble and fibrous structural protein widely cross-linked with hydrogen, disulfide, and hydrophobic bonds. Attempts to find new sources of enzymes and amino acids for fundamental knowledge of enzyme evolution, structure‐function relationships, catalysis mechanisms of enzymes, and even for the identification of novel protein folds. In this study, seventy-nine samples were collected from different places in the University of Baghdad, and the best isolate for amino acid production by feathers degradation was by using Streptomyces venezuelae AZ15. The best fermentation system and the optimum culture conditions for amino acid production from feathers as substrate utilizing S. venezuelae AZ15 were elucidated. Using feathers as a substrate, the results showed that the submerged fermentation (SmF) system was the best to give the highest yield of amino acid. Furthermore, the highest yield of total amino acid was gained in feather broth supplemented with 2% glucose and 0.5 % ammonium nitrate, with a pH of 6.0 at 37 °C for 8 days.
