How Do You Spell URICASE?

Pronunciation: [jˈʊ͡əɹɪkˌe͡ɪs] (IPA)

The word "uricase" is spelled using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as [juːrɪkəseɪs]. The first syllable is pronounced like the word "you," followed by the sounds of "rick" and "uh." The second syllable is pronounced like the word "case," with an additional "s" sound at the end. Uricase is an enzyme that helps break down uric acid in the body, and its correct spelling is important in scientific research and medical applications.

URICASE Meaning and Definition

1. Uricase is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in the metabolism of uric acid in living organisms. Specifically, it catalyzes the oxidation of uric acid into allantoin, an intermediate compound that can then be further converted into more water-soluble substances for easy elimination from the body. This enzymatic conversion process is known as urate degradation.

   Uricase is naturally found in several organisms, including certain bacteria, plants, and animals. In humans, however, uricase is absent due to a genetic mutation, making humans among the few mammals that do not possess this enzyme. As a result, uric acid accumulation can occur, leading to conditions such as gout, kidney stones, or hyperuricemia.

   The absence of uricase in humans has driven scientific research towards the development of recombinant uricase for therapeutic purposes. Recombinant uricase is a synthetic version of the enzyme that can be produced through genetic engineering techniques. It has shown promise in reducing high levels of uric acid in the body and treating related disorders. However, challenges such as immunogenicity and limited availability have hindered its widespread use in clinical practice.

   Overall, uricase is an essential enzyme that aids in the breakdown of uric acid, contributing to the maintenance of homeostasis and preventing the accumulation of this compound in living organisms.

2. A hydrolytic enzyme, present in certain of the lower animals, which converts uric acid into allantoin.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for URICASE

• yricase
• hricase
• jricase
• iricase
• 8ricase
• 7ricase
• ueicase
• udicase
• uficase
• uticase
• u5icase
• u4icase
• urucase
• urjcase
• urkcase
• urocase
• ur9case
• ur8case
• urixase
• urivase

Etymology of URICASE

The word "uricase" is derived from two components - "uric" and "-ase".

1. "Uric" is derived from "uric acid", which is a compound found in the urine, blood, and other bodily fluids. The term "uric" comes from the French word "urique", which was coined in the early 19th century from the Latin word "uricus", meaning "pertaining to urine".

2. "-ase" is a suffix derived from the Greek word "asis", meaning "enzyme". It is commonly used in the scientific naming of enzymes to indicate their function or nature as catalysts.

Combining these components, "uricase" refers to an enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of uric acid into other compounds.

Plural form of URICASE is URICASES