an acid:ammonia ligase (amide synthetase) forming l-asparagine and l-glutamate from l-aspartate and l-glutamine, with the concomitant cleavage of ATP to AMP and pyrophosphate. Under nonphysiological conditions, the mammalian enzyme can use ammonia as the nitrogen donor. Asparagine ligase also displays a glutaminase-like activity. SYN: asparagine synthetase.
