Title:Arginine Deiminase Enzyme Evolving as a Potential Antitumor Agent
Volume: 18
Issue: 4
Author(s): Rakesh Ravindra Somani*Pratip Kashinath Chaskar
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vivekanand Education Society's College of Pharmacy, Chembur (E), Mumbai - 400 074, Maharashtra,India
Keywords:
Arginine, Arginine deiminase (ADI), Arginosuccinate synthetase (ASS), Arginosuccinate lyase (ASL), Hepatocellular
carcinoma, malignant melanoma.
Abstract: Some melanomas and hepatocellular carcinomas have been shown to be auxotrophic for arginine.
Arginine deiminase (ADI), an arginine degrading enzyme isolated from Mycoplasma, can inhibit
the growth of these tumors. It is a catabolizing enzyme which catabolizes arginine to Citrulline.
Tumor cells do not express an enzyme called arginosuccinate synthetase (ASS) and hence, these cells
become auxotrophic for arginine. It is found that ADI is specific for arginine and did not degrade other
amino acid. This review covers various aspects of ADIs like origin, properties and chemical modifications
for better antitumor activity.