Effect of L -Asparaginase from Aspergillus terreus on Ascites Sarcoma in the Rat

IT is well known that L -asparaginase ( L -asparagine amidohydrolase, EC 3.5.1.1) is the antitumour agent in guineapig serum 1 . The same antitumour activity has been demonstrated for the L -asparaginase from Escherichia coli 2 and recently for that from Erwinia carotovora 3 . L -Asparaginase preparations from other bacteria 2,4 or yeast 5 have no inhibitory action. After screening a number of microorganisms, a strain of Aspergillus terreus which produces an L -asparaginase active against Walker 256 ascites carcinosarcoma 6 has now been isolated.