Actin-based motility: stop and go with Ena/VASP proteins

Abstract

Proteins of the Ena/VASP (Enabled/vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein) family are involved in Abl and/or cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinase signaling pathways. These proteins are also crucial factors in regulating actin dynamics and associated processes such as cell-cell adhesion, platelet function and actin-based motility of both cytopathogenic Listeria and their eukaryotic host cells. Although biochemical mechanisms have emerged depicting Ena/VASP proteins as enhancers of actin filament formation, increasing evidence also suggests that these proteins have inhibitory functions in integrin regulation, cell motility and axon guidance.