Protease (PrA and PrB) and prolyl and arginyl aminopeptidase activities from Debaryomyces hansenii as a function of growth phase and nutrient sources

The effects of nutrient sources and growth phase of Debaryomyces hansenii on the protease (PrA and PrB) and aminopeptidase (prolyl-[PAP] and arginyl-[AAP] aminopeptidases) activities were investigated. These activities were also monitored during growth on a whole sarcoplasmic muscle protein extract (WSPE) and on an equivalent medium but free of compounds under 10 kDa (SPE>10 kDa). The levels of specific protease and aminopeptidase activities were higher when cells were grown in urea and dipeptides than when grown in either ammonium or free amino acids as nitrogen sources. The level of each aminopeptidase (PAP or AAP) activity was preferentially induced by its own substrate (ProLeu or LysAla), suggesting a role in the utilization of exogenous peptides. Higher specific activities for all proteolytic enzymes were detected when using acetate as carbon source. The time course experiments carried out on urea or sarcoplasmic protein-containing media revealed an increase in all activities during transition and advanced stages of stationary phase of growth. In muscle protein extracts, the absence of low molecular mass nutrients (SPE>10 kDa) initially induced the production of PrA, PrB, and AAP activities, possibly involved in the breakdown of muscle oligopeptides.