This review is an attempt to retrace the chronicle that starts from the discovery of the role of nickel as the essential metal ion in urease for the enzymatic catalysis of urea, a key step in the biogeochemical cycle of nitrogen on Earth, to the most recent progress in understanding the chemistry of this historical enzyme. Data and facts are presented through the magnifying lenses of the authors, using their best judgment to filter and elaborate on the many facets of the research carried out on this metalloenzyme over the years. The tale is divided in chapters that discuss and describe the results obtained in the subsequent leaps in the knowledge that led from the discovery of a biological role for Ni to the most recent advancements in the comprehension of the relationship between the structure and function of urease. This review is intended not only to focus on the bioinorganic chemistry of this beautiful metal-based catalysis, but also, and maybe primarily, to evoke inspiration and motivation to further explore the realm of bio-based coordination chemistry.

这篇综述旨在追溯从发现镍作为尿素酶中必需金属离子在尿素酶催化中的作用（地球上氮的生物地球化学循环的关键步骤）到最新进展的历程。了解这种历史酶的化学性质。数据和事实通过作者的放大透镜呈现，使用他们的最佳判断来过滤和阐述多年来对这种金属酶进行的研究的许多方面。这个故事分为几章，讨论并描述了随后的知识飞跃所获得的结果，这些知识的发展从发现镍的生物学作用一直到理解脲酶的结构和功能之间关系的最新进展。