ENOLASE Meaning and
Definition
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Enolase is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in various metabolic processes, primarily in glycolysis, the metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate. It is classified as a lyase enzyme and is responsible for catalyzing the reversible conversion of 2-phosphoglycerate (2-PG) to phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP). This reaction involves the removal of a water molecule from 2-PG, resulting in the formation of PEP.
Enolase is highly conserved among different living organisms and exists in several isoforms, each with distinct subcellular locations and tissue-specific expressions. In humans, there are three major isoforms: alpha-enolase (ENO1), beta-enolase (ENO3), and gamma-enolase (ENO2).
Aside from its role in glycolysis, enolase has been found to participate in various additional functions. It has been identified as a moonlighting protein, meaning that it can serve multiple roles within the cell beyond its primary enzymatic function. Enolase is involved in cellular processes such as cell adhesion, cytoskeleton remodeling, gene regulation, and signaling pathways. Additionally, it has been implicated in certain diseases and disorders, including cancer, neurological disorders, and autoimmune diseases.
Overall, enolase is a vital enzyme in energy metabolism, carrying out the conversion of 2-phosphoglycerate to phosphoenolpyruvate in glycolysis. Its involvement in other cellular processes highlights its multifunctional nature, positioning it as a key player in normal cell physiology and disease development.
Common Misspellings for ENOLASE
- wnolase
- snolase
- dnolase
- rnolase
- 4nolase
- 3nolase
- ebolase
- emolase
- ejolase
- eholase
- enilase
- enklase
- enllase
- enplase
- en0lase
- en9lase
- enokase
- enopase
- enooase
- enolzse
Etymology of ENOLASE
The word "enolase" is derived from the term "enol", which refers to a type of compound in organic chemistry. Enols are compounds that contain both an alcohol (-OH) and an alkene (C=C) functional group. The suffix "-ase" is commonly used to designate enzymes, which are proteins that catalyze specific biochemical reactions in living organisms. Therefore, the term "enolase" is used to describe the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of a compound called 2-phospho-D-glycerate to phosphoenolpyruvate during glycolysis, a key metabolic pathway in living cells.
