R. P. Singh

Title : Exploration and characteristic features of L-Asparaginase from a marine bacillus sp.

Abstract:

L-asparaginase is an antileukemic enzyme that is majorly utilized in treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and other blood cancers. A number of groups have made efforts to explore this vital agent. However, use of L-asparaginase has been observed to have several side effects. Moreover, recurrent dosages of this form of enzyme is required due to its shorter half-life in blood circulation, thus limiting its clinical efficacy and increased treatment cost. Thus there are vigorous efforts undergoing to look for L-asparaginase with improved features. The work explores an extracellular glutaminase-free L-asparaginase-producing Bacillus australimaris NJB19 from marine resources. A number of parameters have been analysed to find the optimal levels for achieving increased yields of enzyme production. Further, the biochemical analysis of the protein was conducted for finding out optimum parameters, Km and Vmax. The structural analysis denote that the protein was type II L-asparaginase with no toxin domain. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of the produced L-asparaginase was assessed using three solid tumor cell lines employing MTT and LDH assays. The cytotoxicity evaluation demonstrate the highest cytotoxic activity for MCF-7and to MDA-MB231 and DU-145 cells. Therefore, glutaminase-free L-asparaginase from marine B. australimaris NJB19 appears to be of potential value to be exploited commercially for ALL treatment.

Keywords: Marine, L-asparaginase, Cytotoxicity, Anti-leukemic

Audience take-away:
• The presentation will cover the various aspects of L-asparaginase particularly how marine resources could be useful in looking for therapeutically significant enzymes particularly here L-asparaginase. The various biochemical and molecular approaches to analyze this enzyme will also be deliberated.
• The audience will learn the approaches to look for novel enzymes. They would
also learn the distinct parameters and also the technical details that would let them understand the characteristic features of a novel enzyme. Learning and understanding these details would enable them to use it for their research and development work.
• Attending this presentation will help the audience in designing their approaches for an improved outcome of the research objectives that they are involved into.
• The outcomes of this presentation will help faculty and scientists to take up their research and teaching in an effective and meticulous manner.

Biography:

Prof. R. P. Singh is currently a Emeritus Professor at Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, India. He had worked at National Institutes of Health, USA and Harvard Medical School, USA as a Visiting Fellow and as a Research Officer for more than five years. He was also a visiting faculty for a year at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, USA. His research interests primarily include enzyme engineering, biofuels, biopolymers and biornediation. He is associated with several International and National organizations mainly Process Innovation and Process Intensification Network, UK; European Federation of Biotechnology; Expert Committees of Department of Science & Technology and Department of Biotechnology and Life Science Research Board, DRDO, Govt. of India. He is a member of editorial board of journals. He has authored several original research articles, review papers and book chapters and has one US patent to his credit.