title: Ena/VASP: towards resolving a pointed controversy at the barbed end.
abstract: Ena/VASP proteins are conserved regulators of actin dynamics that have important roles in several physiological processes such as morphogenesis, axon guidance, endothelial barrier function, and cancer cell invasion and metastasis. Although considerable evidence points towards an anti-capping mechanism for Ena/VASP function, some controversy remains. Here, we evaluate the evidence for and against the anti-capping hypothesis, including results from some recent structural and biochemical studies that shed new light on this issue. In addition, we describe several alternate mechanisms that Ena/VASP proteins may utilize to regulate actin dynamics in vivo, including inhibition of branching, bundling and profilin-actin recruitment.
authors.affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill, Lineberger Cancer Center and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bear
authors.forename: Frank B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Gertler
mesh_terms: D051344:Actin Capping Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D034462:Dissent and Disputes; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D055503:Protein Multimerization / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D051344:Actin Capping Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C092744:ENA-VASP proteins