NCBI Summary:
This gene encodes one of the three enolase isoenzymes found in mammals. This isoenzyme, a homodimer, is found in mature neurons and cells of neuronal origin. A switch from alpha enolase to gamma enolase occurs in neural tissue during development in rats and primates. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]
General function
Enzyme
Comment
Cellular localization
Cytoplasmic
Comment
Ovarian function
Comment
Expression regulated by
LH
Comment
Ovarian localization
Oocyte, Theca
Comment
Gonadotropins up-regulate the expression of enolase 2, but not enolase 1, in the rat ovary. Yoshioka N et al. It has been demonstrated that the glycolytic enzymes, enolase 1 (ENO1) and enolase 2 (ENO2), are expressed in the rat ovary. In the present study, we found that mRNA levels of ovarian ENO2 but not ENO1 in normal cycling adult female rats changed significantly during the estrous cycle: ovarian ENO2 mRNA levels at metestrus were lower than those at estrus. Single injection of human CG (hCG) or equine CG (eCG) into immature (3 week old) rats up-regulated ovarian expression of ENO2. hCG mainly increased ENO2 expression in oocytes and theca cells of preantral and antral follicles, and eCG did in theca cells of these follicles. In contrast, hCG and eCG did not affect the expression of ENO1, which was mainly expressed in granulosa cells. These results suggest that endogenous gonadotropins up-regulate expression of ENO2 in oocytes and theca cells of preantral and antral follicles, which would activate glycolysis in these cells. It is also suggested that the activated glycolysis is necessary for ovarian functions such as follicle growth and maturation, and hormone production.