Our high-purity, bioactive L-Asparaginase enzyme is purified from E. coli ASI.357. Purity: greater than 96%. Formulation: Lyophilized with no additives. Summary: L-Asparaginase is an enzyme that depletes L-Asparagine, an important nutrient for cancer cells, resulting in cancer/tumor cell starvation. The rationale behind asparaginase is that it takes advantage of the fact that acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells and some other suspected tumor cells are unable to synthesize the non-essential amino acid asparagine, whereas normal cells are able to make their own asparagine; thus leukemic cells depend on circulating asparagine. Asparaginase, however, catalyzes the conversion of L-asparagine to aspartic acid and ammonia. This deprives the leukemic cell of circulating asparagine, which leads to cell death. Synonyms: L-ASNase, L-asparagine amidohydrolase, ansA.