Extracellular collagenase from Trichophyton schoenleinii.

The dermatophyte Trichophyton schoenleinii elaborates an extracellular collagenase which is specific for native collagen and gelatin and is separable from an enzyme which is active against Azocoll. The fungal enzyme differs from the bacterial collagenases in its acid pH and small molecular weight. In addition, the fungal enzyme is irreversibly inhibited by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, whereas the bacterial enzymes can be restored by divalent cations, such as Mg(++) and Ca(++).