A proteolytic enzyme, commercially produced by a strain of Streptomyces fradiae: Nickerson, Noval, US 2988487 (1961 to Rutgers Res. and Educ. Found.). Can convert about 50% of the dry wt of wool into a water-sol form, permitting hair separation from hides. The amount of enzyme needed to dehair hides is not enough to cause much digestion of the hair itself, which is recovered and used in felt making. The enzyme attacks at the base of the hair shaft, which is particularly sensitive to the action of keratinase.