What is "asparaginase"

n. (context biochemistry English) An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of asparagine to aspartic acid, used in chemotherapy.

n. antineoplastic drug (trade name Elspar) sometimes used to treat lymphoblastic leukemia [syn: Elspar]

Asparaginase (, USAN) or Colaspase ( BAN) is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of asparagine to aspartic acid. Asparaginases are enzymes expressed and produced by microorganisms.

They are used in food manufacture, and in medicine to treat some cancers. These [medical] enzymes are on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines