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α-Enolase, a Multifunctional Protein: Its Role on Pathophysiological Situations

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α-Enolase is a key glycolytic enzyme in the cytoplasm of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and is considered a multifunctional
protein. α-enolase is expressed on the surface of several cell types, where it acts as a plasminogen receptor, concentrating proteolytic
plasmin activity on the cell surface. In addition to glycolytic enzyme and plasminogen receptor functions, α-Enolase appears
to have other cellular functions and subcellular localizations that are distinct from its well-established function in glycolysis.
Furthermore, differential expression of α-enolase has been related to several pathologies, such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and
rheumatoid arthritis, among others. We have identified α-enolase as a plasminogen receptor in several cell types. In particular, we
have analyzed its role in myogenesis, as an example of extracellular remodelling process. We have shown that α-enolase is expressed
on the cell surface of differentiating myocytes, and that inhibitors of α-enolase/plasminogen binding block myogenic fusion in vitro
and skeletal muscle regeneration in mice. α-Enolase could be considered as a marker of pathological stress in a high number of
diseases, performing several of its multiple functions, mainly as plasminogen receptor. This paper is focused on the multiple roles
of the α-enolase/plasminogen axis, related to several pathologies.

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Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, 2012, vol. 2012

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Articles publicats en revistes (Institut d'lnvestigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL))

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α-Enolase, a Multifunctional Protein: Its Role on Pathophysiological Situations