The ENO2 antibody targets enolase 2 (ENO2), a glycolytic enzyme encoded by the *ENO2* gene, also known as neuron-specific enolase (NSE). ENO2 catalyzes the conversion of 2-phosphoglycerate to phosphoenolpyruvate in glycolysis and is predominantly expressed in neurons, neuroendocrine cells, and certain cancers. Its neuron-specific expression has made it a widely used biomarker for neuronal injury, neuroendocrine tumors, and small cell lung cancer.
ENO2 antibodies are critical tools in research and diagnostics, enabling the detection and quantification of ENO2 protein levels via techniques like immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western blotting, and ELISA. In clinical contexts, elevated serum NSE levels (detected using ENO2 antibodies) correlate with neurological damage (e.g., stroke, traumatic brain injury) and malignancies.
Beyond its metabolic role, ENO2 exhibits "moonlighting" functions, including interactions with plasminogen and modulation of hypoxia-inducible pathways, suggesting involvement in tumor invasiveness and metastasis. Studies also explore ENO2's role in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, where its dysregulation may contribute to pathological processes.
Commercially available ENO2 antibodies vary in specificity (monoclonal vs. polyclonal) and applications, requiring validation for cross-reactivity with other enolase isoforms (e.g., ENO1). Ongoing research aims to refine ENO2-targeted therapies and diagnostics, emphasizing its dual role as a metabolic enzyme and a multifunctional signaling molecule in health and disease.