L-ASPARAGINASE-AN ANTI TUMOR AGENT PRODUCTION BY FUSARIUM EQUISETI USING SOLID STATE FERMENTATION

L-asparaginase (L-asparagine amido hydrolase, E.C.3.5.1.1) is a promising chemotherapeutic agent which playsa vital role in treatment of a variety of lymphoproliferative disorders, lymphosarcoma and acute lymphoblastic leukemia inparticular. An attempt is made in the present study to optimize the production of L-asparaginase by Fusarium equiseti usingsoya bean meal under solid state fermentation (SSF). The maximum yield of L-asparaginase (8.51 IU) was achieved withthe following optimized fermentation parameters: incubation period (48 hrs), initial moisture content (70% v/w), particle size(3 mm), inoculum volume (20%), supplemented with glucose (0.5% w/v), ammonium sulphate (0.5% w/v) and yeast extract(0.5% w/v).