Intracellular Aminopeptidase Activity Determination from the Fungus Sporisorium reilianum: Purification and Biochemical Characterization of psrAPEi Enzyme.

The aims of this study were to, first, determine the intracellular aminopeptidase activity (APEi) and second, purify and biochemically characterize one intracellular aminopeptidase enzyme from the phytopathogen fungus Sporisorium reilianum (psrAPEi), the causal agent of head smut in corn. The fungus produced APEi activity in all media cultures evaluated. The psrAPEi was purified by a procedure that involved ammonium sulfate fractionation and four chromatographic steps using an FPLC system (Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography).