Research on biosensors based on bacterial L-asparaginase

Biosensors are analytical systems composed of an immobilized biological element together with asuitable transducer for the quantification of an analyte. Depending on the purpose of the biosensor, themost common ones are electrochemical, piezoelectric, optical, thermometric, and magnetic converters.These sensors usually generate an electronic or optical signal corresponding to the specific interactionbetween the analyte and the immobilized biological element (recognition compound). Their biologicalcomponent may consist of various biological elements such as enzymes, bacteria, tissues, antibodies ornucleic acids, etc. Among these systems, enzyme-based biosensors have been increasingly used due totheir high specificity and exceptional biodetection capabilities.L-asparaginase is an aminohydrolase enzyme that is widely used in the pharmaceutical and foodindustries. Although its main applications are currently focused on the treatment of lymphoproliferativedisorders such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) as well as the reduction of acrylamide levels instarch-rich foods cooked at temperatures above ۱۰۰°C, its use as the biosensor is very important indetecting and monitoring the level of L-asparagine.Although the L-asparaginase enzyme exists widely in nature and is produced by plants, animals, tissues,and microorganisms (bacteria, filamentous fungi, and yeasts), most of the commercial L-asparaginasesbelong to recombinant microorganisms such as Escherichia coli and Erwinia chrysanthemi. Therefore,examples of biosensors based on bacterial L-asparaginase have been designed, including a biosensorbased on Escherichia coli L-asparaginase to monitor L-asparagine in patients with acute lymphoblasticleukemia. This colorimetric sensor uses nitrocellulose membrane, silicone gel, and calcium alginate beadsto monitor L-asparagine. Also, an optical fiber biosensor was designed based on the co-immobilization ofbacterial cells producing L-asparaginase and red phenol on plastic discs. It was applied to determine theconcentration of L-asparagine in four different drinks (tea, mango juice, pineapple juice, and wine).Therefore, L-asparaginase-based biosensors are promising and innovative technology, not only formedicinal applications by monitoring L-asparagine in blood serum samples of patients (such as leukemia)but also in the food industry by determining the concentration of L-asparagine. In addition, due to lowcost, simplicity, ease of use, small size, L-asparagine detection at the nano level, fast response, and highstability of biological components, these biosensor systems show great potential. Based on this, thecurrent review research aims to overview the mechanism of action, importance, and application of thebacterial L-asparaginase-based biosensors.

Keywords:

Bacterial L-asparaginase , L-asparagine , Biosensor