Evidence that the L-asparaginase of guinea pig serum is responsible for its antilymphoma effects. I. Properties of the L-asparaginase of guinea pig serum in relation to those of the antilymphoma substance.

A number of the properties of the L-asparaginase present in guinea pig serum have been examined and shown to be indistinguishable from those of the agent responsible for inhibiting cells of lymphoma 6C3HED in vivo. The patterns of instability of the enzyme to changes in temperature and pH were found to parallel closely those of the antilymphoma agent. L-Asparaginase activity was essentially absent from the serum of newborn guinea pigs and this failed to inhibit 6C3HED cells. On separating guinea pig serum proteins by salt precipitation, electrophoresis, and chromatography on DEAE cellulose, antilymphoma activity was found only in fractions which contained L-asparaginase.