European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ISOLATION AND SCREENING OF ENDOPHYTIC FUNGI FOR THE PRODUCTION OF L-ASPARAGINASE ENZYME

Sariya Abdullah and Sarad Kumar Mishra*

ABSTRACT

Life depends on the existence of powerful and specific biocatalyst. Virtually every biochemical reaction is catalyzed by an enzyme. Hence L-asparaginase is one of them, which catalyzes the conversion of L-asparagine into L-aspartic acid and ammonia and plays a vital role in the treatment of different forms of cancer. It is widely distributed enzyme among bacteria, fungi and plants. L-asparaginase enzyme from bacterial origin can cause hypersensitivity in the long term use, leading to allergic reaction and anaphylaxis. Hence, the search of L-asparaginase producing organisms from other sources can be useful for its production with less adverse effects. In recent studies, endophytic fungi present in different parts of plants have been recognised as an alternate source for L-asparaginase enzyme production. In the present study, endophytic fungi from the six medicinally important plants were isolated and screened for the production of L-asparaginase activity. Total 40 endophytic fungal isolates were isolated, out of which 14 showed positive L-asparaginase activity.

Keywords: Endophytic fungi, L-Asparaginase, Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.