L-Arginase: a Medically Important Enzyme

L-arginase also referred to as L-arginine amidinohydrolase (EC.3.5.3.1) catalyzes the hydrolysis of L-arginine into Lornithine and urea which is the last step of urea cycle in liver of ureotelic species. This enzyme exists in two forms. The first one is arginase-1, is found in liver cells and second one is arginase-2 which is a mitochondrial enzyme that occurs mainly in extra hepatic tissues including kidney, brain and skeletal muscle. L-arginase consists of three tetramers. The present article comprises information on the enzyme L-arginase, which is used in the treatment of cancer. It is isolated from variety of sources such as bacterial cells, yeast cells, fungal cells and plant cells. The present review has discussed about the production of enzyme from different sources, method of assay, purification and characterization of enzyme including the structural information of L-arginase.