asparaginase
drug
Quick Summary
L-asparaginase is an enzyme that breaks down asparagine, an amino acid. Some cancer cells, particularly certain types of leukemia, rely on asparagine for growth and development. By breaking down asparagine into aspartic acid and ammonia, L-asparaginase deprives these cancer cells of a necessary nutrient, thereby inhibiting their replication. This enzyme is obtained from bacteria and is used as an anticancer drug specifically for treating leukemia.12
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