PROTEOLYTIC ACTIVITIES IN CULTURES OF SELECTED WHITE-ROT FUNGI

The presence of multiple intracellular acid extracellular proteolytic activities in trophophasic nutrient-rich) and idiophasic (carbon-or ni trogen-starved) cultures of the white-rot fungi Trametes versicolor an d Phlebia radiata was demonstrated by electrophoresis on polyacrylamid e gels containing denatured haemoglobin as a substrate, In the trophop hasic cultures of T. versicolor, seven electrophoretically distinguish able proteases were defined using mycelial extracts and six (three cle ar and three less intensive) of secreted proteases. For P. radiata eig ht bands of intracellular and five bands (one distinct and four less a ctive) of extracellular proteolytic activities were detected. Gel elec trophoresis revealed changes in patterns of secreted and mycelial prot einases upon carbon or nitrogen deprivation. The changes were seen bot h as an increase in activity of certain bands and as the appearance of new proteolytic bands. Specific activities of extracellular proteinas es, assayed under idiophasic (-C or -N) conditions, increased 2-3 fold as compared to those upon nutrient sufficiency. These changes accompa nied a shift to secondary metabolism and onset of ligninolytic activit y.