Progress in bacterial urease complexes and their activation mechanisms

Abstract:

Urease decomposes urea to ammonia, and has application potential in agriculture and medical treatment. Urease proteins include structural proteins (UreA, UreB and UreC) and accessory proteins (UreD/UreH, UreE, UreF and UreG), each of them has its own unique role in urease maturation. The structural proteins form the active center of urease, and the accessory proteins are responsible for the delivery of nickel. We review here the structure and function of bacterial urease complexes, and how each protein interacts to complete the activation process. We hope to provide theoretical basis for the regulation of urease activity and the development of urease inhibitors.