title: The great escape; phosphorylation of Ena/VASP by PKA promotes filopodial formation.
abstract: The Ena/VASP family of proteins consists of adaptor molecules that localize to subcellular sites of actin polymerization. The role of Ena/VASP proteins in the regulation of cell motility and axon outgrowth has been controversial. Recently, these proteins have been proposed to function as "anticapping" factors, which may have differential effects on filopodial versus lammelipodial actin-based protrusions. A study by Lebrand et al. in this issue of Neuron supports this model and identifies PKA as a key regulator of Ena/VASP function downstream of the chemoattractant Netrin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.forename: Estuardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Robles
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000075388:Netrin-1; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011554:Pseudopodia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D000098662:Vasodilator-Stimulated Phosphoprotein
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C102176:Enah protein, mouse; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D000098662:Vasodilator-Stimulated Phosphoprotein; D000075388:Netrin-1; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases