Involved in urease metallocenter assembly. Binds about 6 nickel ions per homodimer. Probably functions as a nickel donor during metallocenter assembly. Its function can be bypassed in vitro in the presence of high nickel concentrations. Binds 2 Ni ions per subunit. Homodimer. Dimerization is prevented in the UreEF fusion protein. Disrupting the ure1 operon causes loss of urease activity. The artificial UreEF fusion protein binds nickel but is not able to transfer it to the apoprotein, thus its function is impaired. UreF function seems largely unaltered in the fusion. Belongs to the UreE family.