Required for maturation of urease via the functional incorporation of the urease nickel metallocenter (By similarity).
Expression of the urease operon increases the likelihood of bacterial survival by contibuting to acid resistance in vitro and in vivo in BALB/c mice. Y.enterocolitica enters the body via an oral path and must survive the acidic stomach before being able to colonize the intestinal mucosa (PubMed:7558281).