Secreted aspartic peptidases (SAPs) are a group of ten acidic hydrolases considered as key virulence factors. These enzymes supply the fungus with nutrient amino acids as well as are able to degrade the selected host's proteins involved in the immune defense. Required for cell surface integrity and cell separation during budding. Preferential cleavage at the carboxyl of hydrophobic amino acids, but fails to cleave 15-Leu-|-Tyr-16, 16-Tyr-|-Leu-17 and 24-Phe-|-Phe-25 of insulin B chain. Activates trypsinogen, and degrades keratin. Optimum pH is 6.0. O-glycosylated. Belongs to the peptidase A1 family.