The formation of conjugates with PEG–chitosan improves the biocatalytic efficiency and antitumor activity of L-asparaginase from Erwinia carotovora

The ChitoPEGylation method, which is a novel approach to regulating the catalytic properties of enzymes that is based on the formation of a covalent conjugate of an enzyme with branched copolymers of chitosan, has been developed. The efficiency of this method has been demonstrated using a new recombinant preparation of L-asparaginase from Erwinia carotovora (EwA) as a model. The molecular architecture and composition of EwA conjugates with PEG–chitosans have been optimized. It has been shown that the decisive factors that affect the activity of the EwA conjugates are the molecular weight of and PEGylation degree of chitosan. It has been found that the EwA conjugation with PEG–chitosan increases, its cytostatic activity against human chronic myeloid leukemia K562 cells, Burkitt’s lymphoma Raji cells, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia Jurkat cells. These data provide new approaches to the synthesis of L-asparaginase preparations with improved biocatalytic properties.