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. Activates host systemic immunity. During infection, plays an important role in penetration into deeper tissues and interaction with host defense. Moreover, acts toward human hemoglobin though limited proteolysis to generate a variety of antimicrobial hemocidins, enabling to compete with the other microorganisms of the same physiological niche using the microbicidal peptides generated from the host protein. 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. Activity is inhibited by squash aspartic peptidase inhibitor (SQAPI). Optimum pH is 5.0. Expressed during development of germ tubes, pseudohyphae and true hyphae. Induced during host infection. Expression is suppressed by fluconazole. O-glycosylated. Belongs to the peptidase A1 family.