Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India
*Corresponding author. E-mail: oprakash@bhu.ac.in
Effect of fluoride on the activity of purified urease from seeds of watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris) was studied. Fluoride exhibited a concentration dependent inhibition both in presence and absence of the substrate. The inhibition was non-competitive. Addition of 8 mM β-mercaptoethanol gradually abolished the fluoride inhibition.β-mercaptoethanol, in presence of fluoride, also exhibited a concentration dependent suppression of inhibition caused by fluoride. The significance of these observations is discussed.
fluoride inhibition, urease, watermelon, Citrullus vulgaris, β-mercaptoethanol
