Glycolytic enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of 2-phosphoglycerate to phosphoenolpyruvate (PubMed:15606772). In addition to glycolysis, involved in various processes such as parasite development and invasion (PubMed:21949403). Plays an essential role during ookinete invasion of the mosquito vector midgut by mediating the interaction of the ookinete with the midgut epithelium and, further, by binding to mammalian host plasminogen in the blood meal, whose conversion to active plasmin promotes the invasion process (PubMed:21949403). (2R)-2-phosphoglycerate = H2O + phosphoenolpyruvate Binds 2 Mg(2+) ions per subunit (By similarity). Mg(2+) is required for catalysis and for stabilizing the dimer (By similarity). Unlike for mammalian and yeast enolases, Mg(2+) is dispensable to form an active closed conformation (By similarity). Inhibited by high levels of Mg(2+) (PubMed:15606772). Inhibited by Na(2+). Optimum pH is 7.4-7.6. Carbohydrate degradation; glycolysis; pyruvate from D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate: step 4/5. Homodimer (PubMed:15606772). Forms a complex at least composed of DegP, ENO and HSP70 (By similarity). Interacts with G-actin (By similarity). Interacts (via the DKSLVK motif) with mammalian host PLG/plasminogen (present in the mosquito blood meal); the interaction occurs at the ookinete cell surface and is required for ookinete invasion of the mosquito midgut (PubMed:21949403). Interacts with A.gambiae EBP; depending on the Plasmodium species, the interaction is either involved in ookinete invasion of the mosquito midgut (P.berghei) or is dispensable (P.falciparum) (PubMed:24474798). Partially localizes to the nucleus in rings and trophozoites. Localization to the nucleus and food vacuole is higher in early and mid-stage trophozoites compared to the late-stage trophozoites and schizonts (By similarity). In the nucleus, localizes to heterochromatin region (By similarity). In rings, nuclear localization is dependent on the actin cytoskeleton (By similarity). Localizes to the cell surface of merozoites (By similarity). In gametocytes, predominantly localizes to the actin cytoskeleton (PubMed:19642995). In the trophozoite food vacuole, colocalizes with hemozoin, a product of heme detoxification (By similarity). In sporozoites, localizes to punctate structures beneath the cell membrane (By similarity). Localizes to the cell surface of ookinetes, especially on the apical pellicle complex that is involved in invasion (PubMed:21949403). When phosphorylated at Thr-339, localizes to the cytoskeleton (By similarity). When phosphorylated at Ser-42, localizes to the cytoplasm (By similarity). When ubiquitinated at Lys-138, acetylated at Lys-133 and Lys-375 and phosphorylated at Tyr-139, localizes to the food vacuole (By similarity). When triubiquitinated at Lys-138, appears to colocalize with hemozoin in the food vacuole (By similarity). Expressed in gametocytes and gametes (at protein level); expression in stage II gametocytes is lower compared to stages IV/V gametocytes (PubMed:19642995). Expressed in ookinetes (at protein level) (PubMed:21949403). The pentapeptide insert motif is required for the stabilization of the apo-enzyme in an active closed conformation, independently of Mg(2+) binding. The motif is also required for homodimerization. This motif is only present in Apicomplexa and plant enolases. The DKSLVK motif binds to the lysine-binding Kringle domains of plasminogen from various mammalian species (PubMed:21949403). This motif is present only in enolases of plant and several microbial pathogens including Plasmodium species (PubMed:21949403). The salivary gland and midgut peptide SM1 (PCQRAIFQSICK) is an artificial dodecapeptide that mimics enolase DKSLVK motif. By binding the EBP receptor on the luminal surface of the female mosquito midgut epithelium, SM1 inhibits ookinete invasion of P.berghei and thus, could potentially be used to prevent parasite transmission by the mosquito vector (PubMed:21949403, PubMed:24474798). Similarly, another artificial peptide, MP2 (ACYIKTLHPPCS), also inhibits ookinete invasion of P.berghei and P.falciparum and could potentially be used to prevent parasite transmission by the mosquito vector (PubMed:24474798). Belongs to the enolase family.