Micron Document




Urease
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By promoting the formation of calcium carbonate, ureases are potentially useful for biomineralization-inspired processes.cite-ref-31[31] Notably, microbiologically induced formation of calcium carbonate can be used in making bioconcrete.cite-ref-32[32]

Non-enzymatic action

In addition to acting as an enzyme, some ureases (especially plant ones) have additional effects that persist even when the catalytic function is disabled. These include entomotoxicity, inhibition of fungi, neurotoxicity in mammals, promotion of endocytosis and inflammatory eicosanoid production in mammals, and induction of chemotaxis in bacteria. These activities may be part of a defense mechanism.cite-ref-pmid30094078-13-1[13]

Urease insect-toxicity was originally noted in canatoxin, an orthologous isoform of jack bean urease. Digestion of the peptide identified a 10-kDa portion most responsible for this effect, termed jaburetox. An analogous portion from the soybean urease is named soyuretox. Studies on insects show that the entire protein is toxic without needing any digestion, however. Nevertheless, the "uretox" peptides, being more concentrated in toxicity, show promise as biopesticides.cite-ref-pmid30094078-13-2[13]

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