L-asparaginase is broadly distributed
among the plants, animals and
microorganisms. The microbes are a better
source of L-asparaginase, because they can
be cultured easily and the extraction and
purification of L-asparaginase from them is
also convenient, facilitating the large scale
production. L-asparaginase is used in the
treatment of Lymphoblastic leukemia. This
molecule is a tetrameric protein, with a molecular
weight of >140,000. L-asparaginase was
discovered about 45 years ago [1]. The
commonly used microorganisms to produce
L-asparaginase are Erwinia caratovora, Bacillus
spp., Corneybacterium glutamicum. Psuedomonas
stutzeri and Escherichia coli. L-asparaginase from
E. coli has a tumor inhibitory effect and that
fro11m E. chrysanthemi is also pharmacologically
active [2-4].