Asparagine metabolism

Asparagine metabolism encompasses the biosynthesis and breakdown of the amino acid asparagine, a central process in nitrogen handling and amino acid homeostasis across plants, animals, and microbes. In mammals, asparagine is synthesized primarily from aspartate and glutamine via asparagine synthetase (ASNS) in an ATP-dependent reaction, and degraded by asparaginase to yield aspartate and ammonium. Asparagine is important for cellular proliferation, acts as a nitrogen reservoir, and supports protein synthesis. In oncology, the reliance of some cancer cells (notably acute lymphoblastic leukemia) on extracellular asparagine is therapeutically exploited with asparaginase to deplete serum asparagine, inducing cancer cell death. ASNS activity and asparagine availability also influence metabolic rewiring in cancer, development in plants, and infection dynamics in some microbes and viruses. Deficiencies in asparagine metabolism can cause developmental and neurologic disorders in humans.

Other names

Asparagine metabolic pathwayAsn metabolismL-asparagine metabolismnitrogen metabolism

Depletion of asparagine (by asparaginase: deprives certain cancer cells of asparagine, leading to cell death); Inhibition of asparagine synthesis (ASNS inhibitors, experimental); Modulation of amino acid exchange and cellular metabolism