Inhibition of A and B N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase urinary isoenzymes by urea.

A urinary fraction which inhibits the activity of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) has been isolated and identified as being urea. Usually present in high concentration, urea appears to be the only urinary component responsible for the frequently observed urinary NAG inhibition. The inhibition of the two urinary NAG isoenzymes A and B is competitive with respective Ki values of about 70 mmol/l and 60 mmol/l. With routine assay conditions, it seems that a dilution of urine prior to enzyme assay is sufficient to abolish the inhibition of the two isoenzymes A and B by endogenous urea.