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Asparagine Synthetase Activity in Malignant and Non-malignant Human Kidney and Prostate Specimens

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Abstract

NUMEROUS studies have demonstrated the anti-tumour activity of L-asparaginase. Although most of the studies have been performed with enzyme from guinea-pig serum or E. coli, asparaginases from other sources are also inhibitory. A mechanism based on data from several laboratories1–4 has been suggested to account for the anti-tumour activity of the enzyme. A tumour with little or no capacity to synthesize asparagine must be supplied through the circulation. When asparaginase is introduced into the blood stream, asparagine levels quickly fall5, and the tumour starves for lack of one of its essential nutrients. On the other hand, if a tumour can synthesize asparagine, it should be resistant to asparaginase action.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Surgery and Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, Texas

    MORTON D. PRAGER, PAUL C. PETERS, JEFFERSON O. JANES & INA DERR

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  1. MORTON D. PRAGER
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  2. PAUL C. PETERS
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  3. JEFFERSON O. JANES
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  4. INA DERR
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PRAGER, M., PETERS, P., JANES, J. et al. Asparagine Synthetase Activity in Malignant and Non-malignant Human Kidney and Prostate Specimens. Nature 221, 1064–1065 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1038/2211064a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2211064a0

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