Enolase

/ɛˈnoʊleɪs/ noun

Definition

An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of 2-phosphoglycerate to phosphoenolpyruvate, a key reaction in cellular energy production.

Etymology

From 'enol' + '-ase' (enzyme suffix), named because it works with enol-containing compounds in the glycolysis pathway, coined in the early 20th century.

Kelly Says

Enolase is so essential to life that it's found in almost every living organism unchanged for billions of years—it's one of the most 'ancient' and conserved enzymes, making it a molecular fossil of early life.

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