Background
5′-nucleotidase(5′-NT), also known asecto-5′-nucleotidase or CD73 (cluster of differentiation 73), is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the NT5E gene. CD73 commonly serves to convert AMP to adenosine. Ecto-5-prime- nucleotidase (5- prime-ribonucleotide phosphohydrolase; EC 3.1.3.5) catalyzes the conversion at neutral pH of purine 5-prime mononucleotides to nucleosides, the preferred substrate being AMP. The enzyme consists of a dimer of 2 identical 70-kD subunits bound by a glycosyl phosphatidyl inositol linkage to the external face of the plasma membrane. The enzyme is used as a marker of lymphocyte differentiation.
Cellular location
Membrane