Exopeptidases such as aminopeptidases and carboxypeptidases are believed to contribute to the formation of free amino acids during postmortem storage and the processing of meat. In order to understand the role of aminopeptidases in the generation of amino acids and formation of flavor compounds in Chinese traditional salted fish, an aminopeptidase was purified and characterized from black carp muscle. The peptide mass fingerprinting of this enzyme suggested that it was a puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate fractionation and three chromatographies. Puromycin was further confirmed as a competitive inhibitor with K-i value of 0.25 mu M. The 100-kDa enzyme preferentially hydrolyzed substrate Lys-MCA with optimum temperature and pH at 40 degrees C and 7.5, respectively. At the concentration of 3.2% NaCl and 5% ethanol, the enzyme remained 58.5% and 87.5% of its initial activity, respectively. The aminopeptidase(s) activity decreased slowly and remained 41.1% of its initial activity even after 12 days salting of black carp muscle. These results suggest the possible contribution of fish aminopeptidases to free amino acid formation and flavor generation in Chinese traditional salted fish. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.