Antifungal properties of Canavalia ensiformis urease and derived peptides

► Ureases have biological effects independent of their enzyme activity. ► Urease shows homology to plant antifungal defensins, chitinases and thaumatin. ► Jackbean urease is fungicidal to yeasts at submicromolar doses. ► Fungitoxic effects include permeabilization, altered metabolism and cell death. ► The urease-derived peptide Jaburetox is fungitoxic to yeast and filamentous fungi.