Biochemical characterisation of a new thermotolerant L-asparaginase produced by Cunninghamella echinulata PA3S12MM isolated from the Atlantic Forest
Abstract
L-asparaginase is an amidohydrolase enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of L-asparagine into L-aspartic acid and ammonia. This enzyme has significant biotechnological applications, functioning as an antineoplastic agent in the pharmaceutical industry and as a tool for reducing acrylamide formation in the food industry. This study aimed to identify a filamentous fungus strain capable of synthesizing a new L-asparaginase and to perform its biochemical characterisation. Among the fungal isolates screened using plate assays and submerged fermentation, Cunninghamella echinulata strain PA3S12MM was identified as a promising L-asparaginase producer. The highest enzymatic induction was achieved using 5% (w/v) glucose as the carbon source and 0.4% (w/v) chicken feather as an agro-industrial nitrogen source, under incubation for 120 hours. The enzyme exhibited an apparent Km of 0.011 mmol L⁻¹ and a Vmax of 126.5 mmol L⁻¹ min⁻¹ for the hydrolysis of L-asparagine. Partial purification revealed that the enzyme displayed optimal activity at pH 7.0 and a temperature of 85 °C. In terms of substrate specificity, the enzyme demonstrated 100% relative activity toward L-asparagine and 32.9% toward L-glutamine. Enzymatic activity was enhanced by β-mercaptoethanol but inhibited by Mn²⁺, L-cysteine, and dithiothreitol (DTT). These findings suggest that C. echinulata PA3S12MM is a promising candidate for large-scale biotechnological production of a new fungal L-asparaginase, with potential applications in both pharmaceutical and food industries.
Citation Information
@article{simonevongroll2026,
title={Biochemical characterisation of a new thermotolerant L-asparaginase produced by Cunninghamella echinulata PA3S12MM isolated from the Atlantic Forest},
author={Simone Von Groll and Leticia Claudia da Silva and Pedro Henrique Nascimento Souza and Wállison Justino da Silva and Thaís Duarte Bifano and José Luis da Conceição Silva and Rita de Cássia Garcia Simão and Marina Kimiko Kadowaki and Alexandre Maller},
journal={Archives of Microbiology},
year={2026},
doi={https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9357225/v1}
}
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