Urea (500 g)

Molecular Formula: CH4N2O

Molecular Weight: 60.06

CAS: 57-13-6

Melting Point: 132.7 °C1

Synonyms: carbamide, carbonyldiamide1

This product is designated as Molecular Biology grade and is suitable for molecular biology applications. It has been analyzed for the absence of nucleases and proteases. Urea is a prinicipal protein metabolite and the major product for the removal of free ammonia (NH4 + ) in vivo. In the urea cycle, the nitrogen atoms that are incorporated into urea are derived from the amino group of asparate and from free ammonia. The initial biosynthesis of urea occurs outside of the urea cycle, with the condensation of ammonia ion and bicarbonate to give carbamoyl phosphate. Carbamoyl phosphate then enters the urea cycle and undergoes successive enzymatic conversion to citrulline, argininosuccinate, fumarate, and arginine. Arginine is then hydrolyzed by arginase to urea and ornithine. Urea is commonly utilized in biochemistry and molecular biology in various applications. The use of urea in protocols for denaturing fusion proteins, solubilization of inclusion bodies, and denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis has been described. In protein electrophoresis, urea helps in protein denaturation and solubilization, although care must be exercised because of the potential for urea to carbamoylate proteins.