Characteristics and roles of protease released during the germination of Dictyostelium discoideum spores were investigated. When geat activated, the spores germinated, progressively releasing the protease into the extracellular medium. The protease activity exhibited high at pH 2.5. When cyclogeximide was added to culture, complete germination (emergence) and protease release were stopped. Addition of purified nonspecific protease to culture speeded up germination. These results suggest that excreted protease may play a role in removal of the spore wall.