Actin-based motility: stop and go with Ena/VASP proteins
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Updated: Oct 8, 2026

Reconstitution of Actin-Based Motility with Commercially Available Proteins
Published on: October 28, 2022
M Reinhard1, T Jarchau, U Walter
1Institut für Klinische Biochemie und Pathobiochemie, Klinikum der Universität Würzburg, Versbacher Str. 5, D-97078, Würzburg, Germany. Matthias.Reinhard@klin-biochem.uni-wuerzberg.de
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.
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