NT5E

NT5E, or 5'-nucleotide exonuclease, alias CD73, eN, eNT, CALJA. The NT5E protein is a cell surface enzyme whose primary function is to catalyze the conversion of extracellular nucleotides to membrane-permeable nucleosides, a process that is essential for regulating extracellular ATP levels and adenosine signaling. By converting ATP to adenosine, NT5E in turn affects immune cell function and inflammatory responses.
In a biological sense, NT5E plays a role in a variety of physiological and pathological processes, including lymphocyte differentiation, immune regulation, and immune escape in the tumor microenvironment. Aberrant expression of NT5E has been associated with a variety of diseases, such as calcification of joints and arteries, inflammatory bowel disease, and certain cancers.