Ca. Oyeka et Hc. Gugnani, EXTRACELLULAR PROTEASES OF HENDERSONULA-TORULOIDEA SCYTALIDIUM-HYALINUM AND SCYTALIDIUM-JAPONICUM, Mycopathologia, 130(2), 1995, pp. 67-70
Proteolytic activity was demonstrated in all the six clinical isolates
of Hendersonula toruloidea, five of Scytalidium hyalinum and one of S
. japonicum, screened, by using bovine serum albumin as the substrate.
Assay of crude enzyme filtrates showed that enzyme activity increased
with the age of the organism reaching a peak after twelve days of gro
wth. The optimum temperature and pH for maximal enzyme activity were 3
7 degrees C and 5.6 respectively. The maximum dry weight of mycelia re
corded were H. toruloidea, 135 mg; S. hyalinum, 100 mg; and S.japonicu
m 103 mg/50 ml broth after 22 days of growth. Proteases may play a rol
e in the pathogensis of infection caused by these fungi by hydrolyzing
keratinized tissues such as stratum corneum and nails of humans.