Sarcoplasmic protein fraction isolated from fish supported growth and secretion of proteases by Aeromonas hydrophila under aerobic conditions. Removal of nitrogenous material having molecular weight above 10,000 daltons from the sarcoplasmic protein fraction by ultrafiltration caused diminished growth and enzyme secretion by the bacterium. This effect could be reversed by supplementation with fish myosin, casein or bovine serum albumin. Resting cells of the bacterium suspended in membrane-filtered sarcoplasmic protein fraction or phosphate buffer (O.OlM, pH 7.5) secreted protease and aminopeptidase in the presence of proteins such as myosin, casein or BSA. The results suggest that apart from the sarcoplasmic protein fraction, structural proteins of muscle and milk could also influence growth and protease secretion by A. hydrophilu.