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Urease

Urease is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea into carbon dioxide and ammonia. The reaction occurs as follows:

 (NH₂)₂CO + 3H₂O → CO₂ + 2NH₄OH

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

Characteristics:

Molecular weight : 480 kDa
Optimum pH : 7.4
Enzymatic specificity : urea and hydroxyurea
Inhibitors[?] : heavy metals, sodium, potassium

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