A Novel Fungal Protease Expressed in Endophytic Infection of Poa Species

The fungus Acremonium typhinum produces a novel endoprotease during symbiotic endophytic infection of the grass, Poa ampla. This protease is unusual because it is highly active in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The enzyme is a thiol-containing serine protease and is localized to a crude membrane fraction. Similar protease activity has been detected in endophyte-infected Poa autumnalis and Poa sylvestris plants. Expression of this protease may be important in endophytic infection of Poa spp., because similar activity has not been detected in endophyte-infected Festuca arundinacea or Lolium perenne.