Asparaginase: Proteins and Enzymes

Asparaginase is an enzyme purified from E. coli and Erwinia carotovora. It acts by deaminating extracellular L asparagine, an amino acid that appears to be essential for protein synthesis by some tumour cells which are unable to synthesise asparagine. Asparaginase from Erwinia carotovora is serologically and biochemically distinct from asparaginase from E. coli, although its antineoplastic activity and toxicity is similar. Asparaginase is usually considered to be cell cycle phase nonspecific, ...