Anticancer Potential of L-Asparaginase: An Overview

Asparaginase, derived from microbial origin hydrolyses L-asparagine to L-aspartic acid. The enzyme finds principal use in the treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia during childhood that primarily occurs between two to ten years of age. L-Asparaginase finds its use in management of haemopoietic disorders especially in pediatrics that is caused due to proliferation and enlargement of lymphoblast in bone marrow and in blood as well as other part of the body. L- Asparaginase from bacterial sources exhibit quaternary and tertiary structural forms. However for using it in therapeutic and clinical application it should not generate any fatal allergic reaction to the patient. Such effects can occur due to the enzyme associated L-Glutaminase activity and also due to the endotoxins from bacteria in enzyme preparations. Therefore, with the recent development in biotechnology with respect to production and purification techniques it is possible to get pure L- asparaginase from microbial origin. The present article provides an insight into the mechanism of action of L-Asparaginase as an anticancer agent and its industrial applications.