title: The Ena/VASP enigma.
abstract: Ena/VASP proteins are actin-binding proteins that localize to actin stress fibres, the tips of filopodia and the lamellipodial leading edge. In the past few years, a number of seemingly conflicting studies have confused the Ena/VASP field, pointing to roles for these proteins in both promotion and inhibition of actin-dependent processes. Recent discoveries resolve these contradictions and suggest a novel mechanism of Ena/VASP function, in which the proteins function as 'anti-capping' proteins that antagonize capping proteins at the barbed end of actin filaments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307, USA.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bear
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Loureiro
authors.forename: Frank B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Gertler
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000378:metabolism; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D003285:Contractile Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051304:Profilins; D011485:Protein Binding
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D001704:Biopolymers; D003285:Contractile Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C092744:ENA-VASP proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; C495738:PFN1 protein, human; D051304:Profilins