Biological properties of L-lysine α-oxidase in native and conjugated form

The significant difference between biological properties of L-lysine-α-oxidase from Trichoderma harzianum Rifai (LO) and L-asparaginase from E.coli has been observed in vitro and in vivo. High antitumor activity was shown against 8 types of murine and rat transplanted tumors with a wide range of LO therapeutic doses: 35-350 U/mg. The LO conjugates with monoclonal antibodies CD5 specific to the surface of cell line Yurkat were obtained without significant loss of either enzymatic and cytotoxic activity or immunological specificity. The further perspective investigation for the clinical application of the native or conjugated enzymes is discussed.