Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Urea Cycle01:23

Urea Cycle

43.8K
The urea cycle describes how liver cells convert ammonia to urea. Ammonia is a toxic waste product of protein catabolism. Land animals must convert ammonia into the less toxic urea which can be safely eliminated by the kidneys through urine. Marine animals excrete ammonia directly, and the surrounding water dilutes the ammonia to safe levels.
43.8K
Urine: Physical and Chemical Properties01:18

Urine: Physical and Chemical Properties

4.9K
Urine comprises approximately 95% water and 5% solutes. The primary ingredient, apart from water, is urea - a byproduct of the breakdown of amino acids. Other notable components include uric acid, a residue from nucleic acid metabolism, and creatinine, a metabolite from creatine phosphate breakdown in skeletal muscle tissue.
The concentration of these solutes varies, with urea being the most abundant nitrogenous waste product. Other solutes include sodium, chloride, potassium, phosphate,...
4.9K
Comparative Excretory Systems02:24

Comparative Excretory Systems

18.9K
Animals have evolved different strategies for excretion, the removal of waste from the body. Most waste must be dissolved in water to be excreted, so an animal’s excretory strategy directly affects its water balance.
18.9K
Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism01:20

Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism

8.5K
Nitrogen is a very important element for life because it is a major constituent of proteins and nucleic acids. It is a macronutrient, and in nature, it is recycled from organic compounds and stored in the form of  ammonia, ammonium ions, nitrate, nitrite, or  nitrogen gas by many metabolic processes. Many of these metabolic processes are carried out only by prokaryotes.
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this...
8.5K
Serum Studies: Renal Function Tests01:24

Serum Studies: Renal Function Tests

666
Renal function tests are crucial for assessing kidney health, monitoring disease progression, and evaluating the kidneys' efficiency in waste elimination, fluid balance, and electrolyte regulation. These tests offer critical insights into kidney function, even though routine measurements may appear normal until there is a significant decline in the glomerular filtration rate or GFR. Typically, signs of kidney impairment only become evident when the GFR falls to about 50% of its normal level.
666
Amines: Introduction01:07

Amines: Introduction

4.7K
Amines are organic derivatives of ammonia. They are formed by replacing one or more ammonia protons with alkyl or aryl groups. Depending upon the number of organyl groups bonded to nitrogen, amines are classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary. Primary amines have one organyl group attached to the nitrogen atom, while secondary and tertiary amines have two and three organyl groups attached to the nitrogen atom, respectively.
4.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Genome evolution and transposable element expansion reveal host-associated genomic features in Cladosporium cucumerinum.

Communications biology·2026
Same author

NHAPL enables homogeneous detection of RNA-associated glycan signals.

Biosensors & bioelectronics·2026
Same author

Geranylgeranylacetone-Induced HSP70 Modulates AQP4 Trafficking via SNX27-Retromer to Alleviate Retinal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury.

Glia·2026
Same author

Erucic acid aggravates cardiac fibrosis after myocardial infarction by CD36-mediated metabolic reprogramming with impaired mitochondrial aerobic oxidation.

Cellular signalling·2026
Same author

Consolidative therapy for PSMA-avid lesions after 3 cycles of apalutamide plus androgen deprivation in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer: A prospective phase 2 single-arm trial.

European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging·2026
Same author

Plasma Proteomic Profiling Was Used to Discover a Biochemical Recurrence Prediction Model for Prostate Cancer.

Molecular & cellular proteomics : MCP·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 22, 2026

Author Spotlight: Developing a Simple and Robust Hepatic Model for Pharmacological and Toxicological Applications
07:23

Author Spotlight: Developing a Simple and Robust Hepatic Model for Pharmacological and Toxicological Applications

Published on: October 20, 2023

2.0K

Urea.

Hongkai Wang1, Jianhua Ran, Tao Jiang

  • 1Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience Center, Basic Medical College, Chongqing Medical University, Yixueyuan Road 1, Chongqing, 400016, China, wanghongkai1993@gmail.com.

Sub-Cellular Biochemistry
|October 10, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Urea, primarily known for kidney function via blood urea nitrogen (BUN), is generated by urea cycle enzymes. Emerging research reveals novel roles for urea across multiple body systems, indicating broader clinical significance.

More Related Videos

Hot Biological Catalysis: Isothermal Titration Calorimetry to Characterize Enzymatic Reactions
13:00

Hot Biological Catalysis: Isothermal Titration Calorimetry to Characterize Enzymatic Reactions

Published on: April 4, 2014

19.8K
Denaturing Urea Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis Urea PAGE
08:44

Denaturing Urea Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis Urea PAGE

Published on: October 29, 2009

80.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 22, 2026

Author Spotlight: Developing a Simple and Robust Hepatic Model for Pharmacological and Toxicological Applications
07:23

Author Spotlight: Developing a Simple and Robust Hepatic Model for Pharmacological and Toxicological Applications

Published on: October 20, 2023

2.0K
Hot Biological Catalysis: Isothermal Titration Calorimetry to Characterize Enzymatic Reactions
13:00

Hot Biological Catalysis: Isothermal Titration Calorimetry to Characterize Enzymatic Reactions

Published on: April 4, 2014

19.8K
Denaturing Urea Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis Urea PAGE
08:44

Denaturing Urea Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis Urea PAGE

Published on: October 29, 2009

80.0K

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Physiology
  • Nephrology

Background:

  • Urea is a key metabolic byproduct of the urea cycle, primarily occurring in the liver.
  • Urea cycle enzyme expression is also detected at lower levels in various other tissues.
  • Metabolic alterations of urea production are influenced by diet, hormones, and disease states.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the established and emerging roles of urea in human physiology.
  • To highlight the clinical significance of urea beyond its traditional use in assessing renal function.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of biochemical and physiological studies on urea metabolism.
  • Analysis of recent research on urea's functions in different organ systems.

Main Results:

  • Urea is eliminated mainly via urine, with blood urea nitrogen (BUN) serving as a long-standing marker for kidney function.
  • Recent findings indicate novel functions of urea in the urinary, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems.

Conclusions:

  • Urea's physiological roles extend beyond renal function assessment.
  • The multifaceted functions of urea suggest its increasing clinical importance across various medical fields.