Urease

Urease () is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea into carbon dioxide and ammonia. The reaction occurs as follows: (NH2)2CO + H2O → CO2 + NH3

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In 1926 James Sumner shows that urease is a protein. Urease is found in bacteria, yeast and several higher plants.

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Characteristics:

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• Molecular weight : 480 kDa or 545 kDa for Jack Bean Urease (calculated mass from the amino acid sequence).
• Optimum pH : 7.4
• Enzymatic specificity: urea and hydroxyurea
• Inhibitors : heavy metals, sodium, potassium

A specific urease (which may be used in diagnosis) occurs in Helicobacter pylori.

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Enzyme: An enzyme (from Greek ?nsimo (??????), formed by ?n = at or in and simo = leaven or yeast) is a protein that catalyzes, or speeds up, a chemical reaction....

Catalyzes: REDIRECT Catalysis...

Hydrolysis: Hydrolysis is a chemical process in which a molecule is cleaved into two parts by the addition of a molecule of water....