Urease (脲酶)

Urease, a nickel-containing amidohydrolase, exhibits a broad distribution across both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. It can be found in diverse organisms including invertebrates, bacteria, plants, algae, and fungi. Functionally, urease plays a crucial role in catalyzing the hydrolysis of urea, converting it into ammonia and carbon dioxide. In the context of the stomach environment, an increased ammonia content, which is a direct result of urease activity, provides favorable conditions for the survival of Helicobacter pylori. Moreover, when urease is overly active, it leads to abnormally high concentrations of ammonia. This, in turn, causes a rise in the pH of the stomach and may precipitate a series of health implications. These can range from the formation of kidney stones and the onset of pyelonephritis, to the occurrence of hepatic coma, as well as the development of peptic and gastric ulcers. Fortunately, urease inhibitors offer a potential solution as they have the capacity to mitigate the gastrointestinal problems that stem from excessive urease activity^[1].