The Sound of Evolution
Asparaginase
Mechanism of action:
Asparaginase primarily acts by catalyzing the hydrolysis of L-asparagine in the blood into L-aspartic acid and ammonia (NH₃). This reaction markedly lowers circulating asparagine levels. Certain tumor cells, such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells, lack sufficient asparagine synthetase and therefore cannot synthesize enough asparagine on their own. As a result, tumor cells that rely heavily on exogenous asparagine for growth become growth-inhibited.
Reference(s):
1. Roberts J et al. (1966). The antitumor activity of Escherichia coli L-asparaginase. Cancer Res.
2. Boyse EA et al. (1967). Suppression of murine leukemias by L-asparaginase: incidence of sensitivity among leukemias of various types and comparative inhibitory activities of guinea pig serum and Escherichia coli L-asparaginase. J Exp Med.
3. Asselin B et al. (2015). Asparaginase pharmacokinetics and implications of therapeutic drug monitoring. Leuk Lymphoma.