Question:

Element associated with urease activity

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Urease enzyme requires Ni as a cofactor for its biological activity.
  • Ni
  • Mo
  • Fe
  • Co
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The Correct Option is A

Approach Solution - 1

Nickel (Ni) is an essential component of the enzyme urease, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide.
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Approach Solution -2

Cofactor matching: Each trace element listed has a signature enzyme role in plants, molybdenum is the metal cofactor of nitrate reductase and nitrogenase, iron is central to cytochromes and ferredoxin in electron transport, and cobalt supports nitrogenase in symbiotic nitrogen fixers.
None of these three act on urea hydrolysis. Nickel, however, sits at the active site of urease, where two \( \text{Ni}^{2+} \) ions polarise the carbonyl group of urea and activate a hydroxide ion to attack it, splitting urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide.
Since urease activity is specifically nickel-dependent, that is the correct element.
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