Alkaline protease deficiency in the cr-1 (crisp) mutant of Neurospora crassa.

The adenyl cyclase deficient cr-1 mutant of Neurospora crassa grew poorly in bovine serum albumin as an alternative and only source of either sulfur, nitrogen or carbon. The low growth of the cr-1 mutant in protein was correlated with limited secretion of extracellular alkaline protease. The defect was specific for the cr-1 mutant and was suppressed by exogenous cyclic AMP. Cyclic AMP relieved protease deficiency under carbon, nitrogen or sulfur limiting conditions to unequal extents. Protease stimulation was greatest under carbon-limited conditions, but the resulting growth was least. Most of the cyclic AMP-mediated increase of alkaline protease was extracellular.