L-Asparaginase Protein (OPPA00809)

Isoaspartyl peptidase

945456

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 leukaemia. 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 ALL cellsare unable to synthesize the non-essential amino acidasparaginewhereas normal cells are able to make their own asparagine. These leukemic cells depend on circulating asparagine. Asparaginase however catalyzes the conversion of L-asparagine to aspartic acidand ammonia. This deprives the leukemic cell of circulating asparagine.

Unit Definition: One unit of enzyme catalyzes hadrylazation of 10 nanomoles of dUTP to dUMP in one hour at 85C
Activity: One IU of L- Asparaginase is defined as that amount of enzyme required to generate 1 μ mol of ammonia per minute at pH 7.3 and 37C.
Specific Activity: 225 IU/mg.