L-Asparaginase catalyzes the hydrolysis of a non-essential aminoacid L-Asparagine into L-Aspartate and ammonia. Lasparagine
is an essential aminoacid for the growth of tumour cells whereas the growth of normal cells is independent
of its requirement. Most normal tissues synthesize L-asparagine in amounts sufficient for their metabolic needs with
their own enzyme, L-asparagine synthetase but the malignant cells requires an external source of L-Asparagine for
growth and multiplication. In the presence of L-Asparaginase, the tumour cells get deprived of an important growth
factor and cannot survive. This fact suggested the development of this enzyme as a potent anti-tumour or anti-leukemic
drug [