Urate oxidase
- UniProt: P25688
- MGI: 98907
- CAS Number: 134774-45-1
- ( Aspergillus )
Uricase ( urate oxidase also known as ) is an enzyme present in the liver, spleen and kidney of many mammals and many invertebrates. However, in humans, human -like and birds uricase does not occur. However, the uricase in many living things contain copper, the uricases in the soybean (Glycine max), in the fungus Aspergillus flavus and Bacillus subtilis is not.
Uricase catalyzes the degradation of purine metabolism uric acid and urates to allantoin.
Uricase derived from microorganisms as well as the porcine liver is used in medical diagnostics for the detection of elevated uric acid levels associated with gout.
The molecular mass of 34.2 kDa is uricase. In a narrow pH range of 10.3 to a covalent tetramer with 136 kDa forms.
Medicine
Rasburicase is the name of the drug that is used in the treatment of acute high levels of uric acid, tumor lysis syndrome, in particular in the application. Chemically, it is uricase was isolated from the fungus Aspergillus flavus. When recombinantly expressed and purified enzyme rasburicase may be given intravenously and catalyzes the degradation of uric acid to much better water-soluble allantoin, which is excreted through the kidneys. The drug is marketed in Germany, Austria and Switzerland from Sanofi -Aventis under the trade name Fasturtec ®.
Adverse reactions, contraindications
As part of the application may be caused by rasburicase to nonspecific adverse effects, such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. For pre-existing sensitization or with multiple applications may lead to hypersensitivity reactions, which may range from mild allergic reactions to life- threatening anaphylactic shock. Furthermore, rasburicase is contraindicated in patients with a known propensity for hemolysis, in pregnant women and breast-feeding.
Rasburicase may in the blood samples sent to the laboratory chilled to false- low measured levels of uric acid lead since at higher temperatures the enzymatic degradation reaction by rasburicase in the collected blood may run on.