NSE
NSE (neuron-specific enolase) is the gamma-enolase isoenzyme encoded by the ENO2 gene, previously named enolase 2 (gamma, neuronal). It catalyses a late step of glycolysis and also has neurotrophic and neuroprotective properties in the central nervous system. Browse Assay Genie's current range of NSE research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
NSE is an enolase that catalyses the conversion of 2-phosphoglycerate to phosphoenolpyruvate in glycolysis, and the reverse reaction in gluconeogenesis. Beyond this metabolic role, it has neurotrophic and neuroprotective properties on a broad spectrum of central nervous system (CNS) neurons. It binds, in a calcium-dependent manner, to cultured neocortical neurons and promotes cell survival.
The ENO2 gene encodes one of the three enolase isoenzymes found in mammals, and the protein belongs to the enolase family. The isoenzyme is a homodimer and is found in mature neurons and in cells of neuronal origin. UniProt records its subcellular location as the cytoplasm and the cell membrane. The mouse and rat orthologs are both named Eno2.
During development of neural tissue in rats and primates, a switch from alpha enolase to gamma enolase takes place. This makes NSE a useful point of reference for work on neuronal maturation and neuronal cell identity. The name gamma-enolase reflects its place among the enolase isoenzymes, and the HGNC gene group is Enolases. Researchers studying NSE often compare it with the other enolase isoenzymes, such as ENO1 and ENO3, to separate isoform-specific roles in metabolism and neurobiology.
NSE catalyses the 2-phosphoglycerate to phosphoenolpyruvate step, making it relevant to energy metabolism in mature neurons and cells of neuronal origin.
NSE has neurotrophic and neuroprotective properties on a broad spectrum of CNS neurons and promotes survival of cultured neocortical neurons.
A switch from alpha enolase to gamma enolase occurs in neural tissue during development in rats and primates, so NSE informs studies of neuronal maturation.
As one of three mammalian enolase isoenzymes, NSE supports comparative work on isoform-specific functions alongside related enolases.
NSE is an enolase that converts 2-phosphoglycerate to phosphoenolpyruvate in glycolysis and catalyses the reverse reaction in gluconeogenesis. It also has neurotrophic and neuroprotective properties on CNS neurons, binding cultured neocortical neurons in a calcium-dependent manner and promoting their survival.
NSE is the alias for the ENO2 gene, whose approved name is enolase 2 and which was previously called enolase 2 (gamma, neuronal). UniProt names the protein gamma-enolase. These names all refer to the same neuronal enolase isoenzyme, which is a homodimer.
Mouse and rat both carry an ortholog named Eno2. A switch from alpha enolase to gamma enolase in neural tissue during development has been described in rats and primates. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other enolase isoenzymes and related targets with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P09104; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.