A comparison of secretory proteinases from different strains of Candida albicans.

Randomly selected strains of Candida albicans were grown with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a single nitrogen source. From all strains tested, culture supernatant contained carboxyl proteinase (E.C.3.4.23) as has been shown that with hemoglobin as a substrate and by specific inhibition with pepstatin-A. According to the separation pattern of BSA fragments, secretory proteinases from C. albicans belong to at least three groups. We have purified the partially proteolytic enzyme of strain 113 and have compared its properties with those of the totally proteolytic enzyme of strain CBS 2730. Both enzymes have virtually identical molecular weight (ca. 44,000) and cross-react immunologically; they differ in pH optimum, isoelectric point, substrate specificity, and resistance against alkali. IgG1, which is the prevalent immunoglobulin of human serum, was not cleaved by enzyme 113. Immunoglobulins A1, A2 and secretory component were cleaved by both enzymes, which points to a role of the secretory proteinases in the persistence of yeasts on mucous membranes. Differences in the course of alkaline denaturation indicate that only a fraction of strain-specific proteinases is capable to convey long-range effects in the host.