Concept:Certain enzymes have specific therapeutic applications in medicine due to their ability to deplete essential nutrients that cancer cells rely on.
Formula:$$ \text{L-Asparagine} + \text{H}_2\text{O} \xrightarrow{\text{L-asparaginase}} \text{L-Aspartate} + \text{NH}_3 $$
Solution:- L-asparaginase breaks down the amino acid L-asparagine.
- Normal cells can synthesize their own L-asparagine, but certain leukemic (blood cancer) cells in children cannot.
- Administering L-asparaginase depletes circulating L-asparagine, starving the cancer cells and causing their death. Thus, it is highly effective in treating childhood blood cancer (acute lymphoblastic leukemia).
Why other options are incorrect:Jaundice is related to bilirubin processing. Rickets is caused by Vitamin D/calcium deficiency. Heart disease is treated with other agents (like tissue plasminogen activator). None of these involve L-asparaginase.
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