L-Asparaginase, E. coli

Description L-Asparaginase enzyme purified from E. coli ASI.357 is a tetrameric polypeptide chain with a molecular mass of 34,564 Dalton. Summary L-Asparaginase is an enzyme that depletes L-Asparagine, an important nutrient for cancer cells, resulting in cancer/tumor cell starvation. L-asparaginase is an anti-tumor agent derived from E. coli which can inhibit the growth of malignant cells. It is used mainly for the induction of remission in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Because of the lymph node origin of malignant B cells in Multiple Myeloma, L-Asparagine is an essential amino acid for their cell metabolism, and, consequently, L-Asparaginase may be of value in managing the disease. The rationale behind asparaginase is that it takes advantage of the fact that acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells are unable to synthesize the non-essential amino acid asparagine whereas normal cells are able to make their own asparagine. These leukemic cells depend on circulating asparagine. Asparaginase ca