Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 2, 2026

Acquisition of High-Quality Digital Video of Drosophila Larval and Adult Behaviors from a Lateral Perspective
07:00

Acquisition of High-Quality Digital Video of Drosophila Larval and Adult Behaviors from a Lateral Perspective

Published on: October 4, 2014

8.2K

Mena, a relative of VASP and Drosophila Enabled, is implicated in the control of microfilament dynamics

F B Gertler1, K Niebuhr, M Reinhard

  • 1Division of Molecular Medicine, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98104, USA.

Cell
|October 18, 1996
PubMed

Insights

Researchers identified Mena and Evl, proteins related to Drosophila Enabled, crucial for cell motility and actin polymerization. These proteins may play a role in bacterial movement and the formation of cellular structures.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Drosophila Enabled is essential for axonal structure formation and implicated in signaling pathways.
  • Enabled, Vasodilator-Stimulated Phosphoprotein (VASP), Mena, and Evl are related proteins involved in cytoskeletal regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize murine homologs of Drosophila Enabled.
  • To investigate the function of Mena and Evl in actin dynamics and cell motility.

Main Methods:

  • Protein homology analysis to identify Mena and Evl.
  • Biochemical assays to determine Mena's interaction with proline-rich motifs and G-actin binding protein profilin.
  • Cell-based assays using fibroblasts expressing neural-enriched Mena isoforms.

Main Results:

  • Mena and Evl were identified as murine proteins highly related to Drosophila Enabled and VASP.
  • A conserved domain in Mena targets it to proteins with specific proline-rich motifs.
  • Mena associates with Listeria monocytogenes and profilin, suggesting a role in actin polymerization for bacterial motility.
  • Expression of Mena isoforms in fibroblasts induced abnormal F-actin-rich outgrowths, indicating a role in microfilament assembly.

Conclusions:

  • Mena and Evl are functional homologs of Drosophila Enabled.
  • Mena plays a significant role in actin dynamics, cell motility, and potentially bacterial movement.
  • These findings highlight the conserved function of Enabled family proteins in regulating the actin cytoskeleton.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Optogenetic Inhibition of Rho1-Mediated Actomyosin Contractility Coupled with Measurement of Epithelial Tension in Drosophila Embryos12:35

Author Spotlight: Optogenetic Inhibition of Rho1-Mediated Actomyosin Contractility Coupled with Measurement of Epithelial Tension in Drosophila Embryos

Published on: April 14, 2023

2.0K
Author Spotlight: Understanding Microtubule Network in Drosophila Neuromuscular Junctions08:04

Author Spotlight: Understanding Microtubule Network in Drosophila Neuromuscular Junctions

Published on: October 20, 2023

3.8K

Related Concept Videos

Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments01:14

Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments

The straight or branched structure formation of actin filaments is controlled by nucleating proteins such as the formins and Arp2/3 complex. Formin-mediated assembly results in straight filaments, whereas Arp2/3 protein complex-mediated assembly results in branched actin filaments.
Arp2/3 Complex
Arp2/3 complex is a seven-subunit complex consisting of two proteins similar to actin- Arp2 and Arp3, and five other subunits that help keep Arp2 and Arp3 inactive. When required, the complex is...
2.9K
Actin Filament Depolymerization01:19

Actin Filament Depolymerization

Actin filaments (F-actin) are composed of actin subunits. The dissociation of actin monomers can occur from either end of F-actin. The rate of dissociation is faster from the minus-end or the pointed end, where the actin subunits exist with a bound ADP, together known as ADP-actin. The depolymerization of F-actin is aided by proteins, including the actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF) and cofilin family of proteins, gelsolin, and glia maturation factor (GMF).
In F-actin, the ADF/cofilin proteins...
3.0K
Microtubule Associated Motor Proteins01:32

Microtubule Associated Motor Proteins

Eukaryotic cells have different motor proteins for transporting various cargo within the cell. These motor proteins differ based on the filament they associate with, the direction they move within the cell, and the type of cargo they transport. Motor proteins that associate with microtubules are known as microtubule-associated motor proteins. There are two families of microtubule-associated motor proteins —Kinesins and Dyneins. Both these proteins assist in the transport of cellular...
10.0K
Spindle Assembly02:50

Spindle Assembly

Spindle assembly occurs through three, often coexisting, pathways – the centrosome-mediated pathway, the chromatin-mediated pathway, and the microtubule-mediated pathway – collectively contributing to form a robust spindle apparatus.
In most cells, centrosomes are the primary microtubule nucleation centers. In the centrosome-mediated pathway, the G2-prophase transition triggers centrosome maturation and increased microtubule nucleation. Progressive nucleation results in a...
3.3K
Mechanism of Filopodia Formation01:39

Mechanism of Filopodia Formation

Filopodia are thin, actin-rich cellular protrusions that play an important role in many fundamental cellular functions. They vary in their occurrence, length, and positioning in different cell types, suggesting their diverse roles.
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...
2.5K
Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation01:31

Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation

Cells migrating in response to external stimuli form lamellipodia, which are thin membrane protrusions supported by a mesh of linked, branched, or unbranched actin filaments. These actin filaments interact with myosin motor proteins, creating the dynamic actomyosin complex within the cytoskeleton. Contractility, or the ability to generate contractile stress, is inherent to the actomyosin complex. It helps cells detect the stiffness of the surrounding ECM and exert contractile force for...
3.1K