A systematic review of recent trends in research on therapeutically significant L-asparaginase and acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Bacterial cellulose films for L-asparaginase delivery to melanoma cells

L-asparaginase (L-ASNase) is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of L-asparagine to L-aspartic acid and ammonia and is used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It is also toxic to the cells of some solid tumors, including melanoma cells. Immobilization of this enzyme can improve its activity against melanoma tumor cells. In this work, the properties of bacterial cellulose (BC) and feasibility of BC films as a new carrier for immobilized L-ASNase were investigated. Different values of growth time were used to obtain BC films with different thicknesses and porosities, which determine the water content and the ability to adsorb and release L-ASNase. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the adsorption of the enzyme on the BC films. The total activity of adsorbed L-ASNase and its release were investigated for films grown for 48, 72 or 96 h. BC films grown for 96 h showed the most pronounced release as described by zero-order and Korsmayer-Peppas models. The release was characterized by controlled diffusion where the drug was released at a constant rate. BC films with immobilized L-ASNase could induce cytotoxicity in A875 human melanoma cells. With further development, immobilization of L-ASNase on BC may become a potent strategy for anticancer drug delivery to superficial tumors.

Kinetics characterization of a low immunogenic recombinant l-asparaginase from Phaseolus vulgaris with cytotoxic activity against leukemia cells

l-asparaginases play a crucial role in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a type of cancer that mostly affects children and teenagers. However, it is common for these molecules to cause adverse reactions during treatment. These downsides ignite the search for novel asparaginases to mitigate these problems. Thus, this work aimed to produce and characterize a recombinant asparaginase from Phaseolus vulgaris (Asp-P). In this study, Asp-P was expressed in Escherichia coli with high yields and optimum activity at 40 °C, pH 9.0. The enzyme Km and Vmax values were 7.05 mM and 1027 U/mg, respectively. Asp-P is specific for l-asparagine, showing no activity against l-glutamine and other amino acids. The enzyme showed a higher cytotoxic effect against Raji than K562 cell lines, but only at high concentrations. In silico analysis indicated that Asp-P has lower immunogenicity than a commercial enzyme. Asp-P induced biofilm formation by Candida sp. due to sublethal dose, showing an underexplored potential of asparaginases. The absence of glutaminase activity, lower immunogenicity and optimal activity similar to physiological temperature conditions are characteristics that indicate Asp-P as a potential new commercial enzyme in the treatment of ALL and its underexplored application in the treatment of other diseases.

Application of sequential design for enhanced L-asparaginase synthesis from Ganoderma australe GPC191

With an increasing demand for L-asparaginase in pharmaceutical and food sectors for its cytostatic and acrylamide-reducing qualities, there's a need to discover novel, highly productive enzyme sources with improved pharmacokinetic profiles. Keeping this in mind, the present study aimed at maximizing the potential of Ganoderma australe GPC191 to produce L-asparaginase by fermentation medium optimization using statistical validation. Of the 11 physicochemical parameters evaluated under submerged fermentation conditions through one-factor-at-a-time approach and Plackett-Burman design, only four parameters (inoculum load, L-asparagine, soybean meal, and initial pH) influenced L-asparaginase production, significantly (p < 0.001). The optimal levels and interaction effects of these on the overall production were further evaluated by the central composite rotatable design of response surface methodology. Post-optimization, 27.34 U/mL was predicted as the maximum activity at pH 7 with 5n inoculum load and 15 g/L each of L-asparagine and soybean meal. Experimental validation yielded an activity of 28.52 U/mL, indicating an overall 18.17-fold increase from the unoptimized stage. To our knowledge, this is the first report signifying the L-asparaginase production aptitude of G. australe with sequential statistical validation using agricultural waste, which can serve as a model to enhance its yields, offering a sustainable and cost-effective solution for industrial application.