We report the expression, purification, and characterization of L-asparaginase (AnsA) from Rhizobium etli. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity in a single-step procedure involving affinity chromatography, and the kinetic parameters K m , V max , and k cat for L-asparagine were determined. The enzymatic activity in the presence of a number of substrates and metal ions was investigated. The molecular mass of the enzyme was 47 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The enzyme showed a maximal activity at 50 o C, but the optimal temperature of activity was 37 o C. It also showed maximal and optimal activities at pH 9.0. The values of K m , V max , k cat , and k cat /K m were 8.9 ± 0.967 × 10-3 M, 128 ± 2.8 U/mg protein, 106 ± 2 s-1 , and 1.2 ± 0.105 × 10 4 M-1 s-1 , respectively. The L-asparaginase activity was reduced in the presence of Mn 2+ , Zn 2+ , Ca 2+ , and Mg 2+ metal ions for about 52% to 31%. In addition, we found that + NH 4 , L-Asp, D-Asn, and β-aspartyl-hydroxamate in the reaction buffer reduced the activity of the enzyme, whereas L-Gln did not modify its enzymatic activity. This is the first report on the expression and characterization of the L-asparaginase (AnsA) from R. etli. Phylogenetic analysis of asparaginases reveals an increasing group of known sequences of the Rhizobialtype asparaginase II family.