In enzymology, an urethanase (EC 3.5.1.75) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

urethane + H₂O ${\displaystyle \rightleftharpoons }$ ethanol + CO₂ + NH₃

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are urethane and H₂O, whereas its 3 products are ethanol, CO₂, and NH₃.

This enzyme belongs to the family of hydrolases, those acting on carbon-nitrogen bonds other than peptide bonds, specifically in linear amides. The systematic name of this enzyme class is urethane amidohydrolase (decarboxylating). This enzyme is also called urethane hydrolase.

References

• Kobashi K, Takebe S, Sakai T (May 1990). "Urethane-hydrolyzing enzyme from Citrobacter sp". Chem. Pharm. Bull. Tokyo. 38 (5): 1326–8. doi:10.1248/cpb.38.1326. PMID 2393957.