UREASE Meaning and
Definition
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Urease is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea. It is responsible for the conversion of urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide, a reaction known as ureolysis. Urease is typically found in bacteria, fungi, and plants, and its activity is crucial for the metabolism of nitrogen-containing compounds.
Urease is composed of multiple subunits that form a protein complex. The enzyme's active site contains a nickel ion, which plays a critical role in the catalysis of the urea hydrolysis reaction. When urea comes into contact with urease, the enzyme facilitates the breakdown of urea molecules, resulting in the release of ammonia and carbon dioxide as by-products.
The activity of urease has significant implications in various biological processes. For instance, in bacteria, urease helps in the utilization of urea as a nitrogen source, enabling bacteria to survive in environments where urea is present, such as the gastrointestinal tract. Urease is also involved in the formation of kidney stones in humans, where elevated levels of urease can lead to the hydrolysis of urea and subsequent production of ammonia, creating an alkaline environment that favors stone formation.
Furthermore, urease has several applications beyond its fundamental biological role. It has been utilized in biomedical research, clinical diagnostics, and industrial processes. Urease-based assays are commonly used to detect urea levels in biological samples, while the enzyme's alkaline properties have been exploited in various industrial sectors, such as waste management and soil conditioning.
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Urea-ferment, a ferment causing ammoniacal decomposition of urea.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for UREASE
Etymology of UREASE
The word "urease" is derived from two components: "urea" and "ase".
The term "urea" originated from the Greek word "ouron", meaning "urine". Urea is a chemical compound found in urine, and it was first synthesized in 1828 by Friedrich Wöhler, making it one of the first organic compounds created artificially.
The suffix "-ase" is commonly used in biochemistry to denote an enzyme. The suffix comes from the Greek verb "asis", meaning "to loosen" or "to detach". It is added to the name of a substrate or a specific reaction, indicating that the substance is an enzyme involved in catalyzing that reaction.
Therefore, "urease" refers to the enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide, a reaction commonly performed by certain microorganisms.
Similar spelling words for UREASE
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