Induction of extracellular proteases by egg-white in Aspergillus nidulans.

Aspergillus nidulans when supplemented with egg-white protein (1 %) produced considerable amounts of proteases extracellularly. The order of the appearance of the proteolytic enzymes growth on untreated and heat-inactivated egg-white were studied. They showed pH optima of 5, 7.2 and 9 when assayed at 37 degrees C. It is proposed that one of the factors leading to higher cell mass of A. nidulans in the presence of egg-white is the availability of protease-catalyzed hydrolyzed products of egg-white.