Neurons switch from non-neuronal enolase to neuron-specific enolase during differentiation.
The enolase (EC 4.2.1.11) isoenzymes, neuron-specific enolase (NSE, gamma gamma) and non-neuronal enolase (NNE, alpha alpha), are markers for neurons and glia, respectively, in adult mammalian brain. In developing fetal and early postnatal brain, levels of non-neuronal enolase (NNE) are high. Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) appears only after neurogenesis begins in a given region and only slowly attains adult levels. Immunocytochemistry in developing rat and rhesus monkey brain reveals that proliferative zones that give rise to neurons are NNE(+). Thus, nerve cells must undergo a switch from NNE to NSE. In addition, study of neurons in cerebellum and neocortex reveals that they are NNE(+) during migration and only become NSE(+) in their final location, presumably after making full synaptic connections. Such migrating cells may contain hybrid enolase (alpha gamma) and some (e.g. cerebellar stellate/basket cells) may not completely switch over to NSE even in the adult. Neuron-specific enolase is not only a specific molecular marker for mature nerve cells, but is closely correlated to the differentiated state.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000201:enzymology; D000882:Haplorhini; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000378:metabolism*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000201:enzymology; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000201:enzymology
D007527:Isoenzymes; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase