Urea, MP Biomedicals™

Description

Used in the solubilization and denaturation of proteins. Urea, MP Biomedicals is a principal protein metabolite end product of nitrogen metabolism in most mammals. It is formed by the enzymatic reactions of the Kreb's cycle and is the major product for th

Urea in solution is in equilibrium with ammonium cyanate. The form that reacts with protein amino groups is isocyanic acid. Urea in the presence of heat and protein leads to carbamylation of the proteins.

• Carbamylation by isocyanic acid interferes with protein characterization because isocyanic acid reacts with the amino terminus of proteins, preventing N-terminal sequencing
• Isocyanic acid also reacts with side chains of lysine and arginine residues, resulting in a protein that is unsuitable for many enzymatic digests
• Carbamylation often leads to confusing results from peptides having unexpected retention times and masses

Urea is a mild agent usually used for the denaturation of proteins and as a mild solubilization agent for insoluble or denatured proteins. It is also useful for renaturing proteins from samples already denatured with 6M guanidine chloride, such as inclusion bodies.

• It may be used with guanidine hydrochloride and dithiothreitrol (DTT) in the refolding of denatured proteins into their native or active form
• It is commonly used in the extraction of the mitochondrial complex, in isoelectric focusing and two-dimensional electrophoresis, and in acetic acid-urea PAGE gels

Other applications include:

• In cell or tissue culture media, to increase the osmolality
• As fertilizer, because of the easy availability of nitrogen
• In animal feeds
• Reacted with aldehydes to make resins and plastics
• Condensed with malonic ester to form barbituric acid
• In the paper industry, to soften cellulose
• As a diuretic
• To enhance the action of sulfonamides
• As an antiseptic

Specifications

Chemical Identifiers

• CAS: 57-13-6
• Molecular Formula: CH4N2O
• Molecular Weight (g/mol): 60.056
• InChI Key: XSQUKJJJFZCRTK-UHFFFAOYSA-N
• Synonym: carbamide, isourea, carbonyldiamide, ureophil, carbonyldiamine, carbamimidic acid, pseudourea, ureaphil, urevert, alphadrate
• PubChem CID: 1176
• ChEBI: CHEBI:48376
• IUPAC Name: urea
• SMILES: C(=O)(N)N

• Melting Point: 132°C to 135°C
• Density: 1.335g/cm³ at 20°C(Lit.)
• Boiling Point: 135°C (literature) (decomposition)
• Quantity: 500 g
• Solubility Information: One gram dissolves in 1mL water, 10mL 95% ethanol (100mg/mL), 1mL boiling 95% ethanol, 20mL absolute ethanol (50mg/mL), 6mL methanol (166mg/mL), 2mL glycerol (500mg/mL); Soluble in concentrated hydrochloric acid; almost insoluble in chloroform, ether.
• Vapor Pressure: 0.000016hPa at 25°C (Lit.)
• Formula Weight: 60.06
• Percent Purity: ≥99%
• Grade: ACS
• Physical Form: Crystalline Powder

Safety and Handling

Recommended Storage

Room Temperature (15–30°C)

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