UROCANATE HYDRATASE Meaning and
Definition
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Urocanate hydratase is an enzyme that plays a critical role in the metabolism of histidine, which is an essential amino acid required by the body for the synthesis of proteins. This enzyme is responsible for the conversion of urocanate to imidazolone-5-propionate in the histidine degradation pathway.
Urocanate hydratase, also known as urocanase, is a member of the lyase family of enzymes. It specifically catalyzes the hydration of urocanate, a chemical compound formed during the breakdown of histidine, into imidazolone-5-propionate. This reaction involves the addition of a water molecule to urocanate, resulting in the formation of imidazolone-5-propionate.
The activity of urocanate hydratase is vital for maintaining the balance of histidine metabolism in the body. Deficiencies or impaired function of this enzyme can lead to the accumulation of urocanate and related metabolites, resulting in a condition known as urocanic aciduria. This condition is characterized by elevated levels of urocanic acid in the urine, which can be associated with neurological symptoms such as developmental delay, intellectual disability, and movement disorders.
Understanding the function and structure of urocanate hydratase is essential for diagnosing and managing urocanic aciduria. Research on this enzyme may also contribute to the development of therapeutic interventions for disorders related to histidine metabolism.
Common Misspellings for UROCANATE HYDRATASE
- yrocanate hydratase
- hrocanate hydratase
- jrocanate hydratase
- irocanate hydratase
- 8rocanate hydratase
- 7rocanate hydratase
- ueocanate hydratase
- udocanate hydratase
- ufocanate hydratase
- utocanate hydratase
- u5ocanate hydratase
- u4ocanate hydratase
- uricanate hydratase
- urkcanate hydratase
- urlcanate hydratase
- urpcanate hydratase
- ur0canate hydratase
- ur9canate hydratase
- uroxanate hydratase
- urovanate hydratase
Etymology of UROCANATE HYDRATASE
The term "Urocanate Hydratase" can be broken down into two parts: "urocanate" and "hydratase".
1. Urocanate:
The term "urocanate" refers to a compound called urocanic acid, which is derived from a nitrogenous compound called histidine. The word "urocanate" itself comes from "urocanic", which is derived from the Latin word "urocanus", meaning "violet" or "purple". This is likely because urocanic acid can form a violet-colored compound with ferric chloride.
2. Hydratase:
The term "hydratase" is derived from the word "hydrate", which comes from the Greek word "hydor", meaning "water". In biochemistry, enzymes with the suffix "-ase" are typically involved in catalyzing specific reactions.
