The study of intracellular and secreted high-molecular-mass protease(s) of spp., and their responses to conidiation stimuli.

We continued our study of high-molecular-mass proteases (HMMPs) using several strains of the genus , and other filamentous fungi ( and ). We found that five strains secreted HMMPs into the media after induction with bovine serum albumin. and secreted proteases in the absence of inducer, while or did not secrete proteolytic activity (PA). The activity of HMMPs secreted by or intracellularly located in spp. represents the predominant part of cellular PA, according to zymogram patterns. This observation allowed the study of HMMPs' physiological role(s) independent from the secretion. In studying conidiation, we found that illumination significantly stimulated PA in strains. In the IMI 206040 strain, we demonstrated that this stimulation is dependent on the BLR1 and BLR2 receptors. No stimulation of PA was observed when mechanical injury was used as an elicitor of conidiation. Compounds used as inhibitors or activators of conidiation exerted no congruent effects on both PA and conidiation. These results do not favour a direct role of HMMPs in conidiation. Probably, HMMP activity may be involved in the process of the activation of metabolism during vegetative growth, differentiation, and aging-related processes.