Involved in urease metallocenter assembly. Binds nickel. Probably functions as a nickel donor during metallocenter assembly. Belongs to the UreE family. The last gene of this probable operon, ureD, gives rise to a truncated protein. Absence of ureD prevents expression of active urease. Correction of the mutation does not effect virulence in mice in any detectable fashion, suggesting urease is not important in the virulence of Y.pestis (PubMed:11119503).