Title:Technological Prospecting: Mapping Patents on L-asparaginases from Extremophilic Microorganisms
Volume: 15
Issue: 4
Author(s): Igor Gomes de Oliveira Lima, James Romero Soares Bispo, Maurício Bernardo da Silva, Alexya de Oliveira Feitosa, Ana Caroline Melo dos Santos, Magna Suzana Alexandre Moreira, Michel Rodrigo Zambrano Passarini, Paulo Eduardo Aguiar Saraiva Câmara, Luiz Henrique Rosa, Valéria Maia Oliveira, Aline Cavalcanti de Queiroz and Alysson Wagner Fernandes Duarte*
Affiliation:
- Laboratorio de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Complexo de Ciencias Medicas e Enfermagem, Campus Arapiraca, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, 57309-005, Arapiraca, AL,Brazil
Keywords:
Acrylamide, amidohydrolase, L-asparagine, chemotherapeutic drug, extremophiles, L-asparaginase,
patents, technology innovation.
Abstract:
Background: L-asparaginase (L-ASNase, L-asparagine amidohydrolase, E.C.3.5.1.1) is an enzyme
with wide therapeutic applicability. Currently, the commercialized L-ASNase comes from mesophilic organisms,
presenting low specificity to the substrate and limitations regarding thermostability and active pH
range. Such factors prevent the maximum performance of the enzyme in different applications. Therefore, extremophilic
organisms may represent important candidates for obtaining amidohydrolases with particular characteristics
desired by the biotechnological market.
Objectives: The present study aims to carry out a technological prospecting of patents related to the L-asparaginases
derived from extremophilic organisms, contributing to pave the way for further rational investigation and
application of such enzymes.
Methods: This patent literature review used six patents databases: The LENS, WIPO, EPO, USPTO, Patent Inspiration,
and INPI.
Results: It was analyzed 2860 patents, and 14 were selected according to combinations of descriptors and study criteria.
Approximately 57.14% of the patents refer to enzymes obtained from archaea, especially from the speciesPyrococcus
yayanosii (35.71% of the totality).
Conclusion: The present prospective study has singular relevance since there are no recent patent reviews for L-asparaginases,
especially produced by extremophilic microorganisms. Although such enzymes have well-defined applications,
corroborated by the patents compiled in this review, the most recent studies allude to new uses, such as the treatment
of infections. The characterization of the catalytic profiles allows us to infer that there are potential sources still
unexplored. Hence, the search for new L-ASNases with different characteristics will continue to grow in the coming
years and, possibly, ramifications of the technological routes will be witnessed.