AI Article Synopsis
- Actin binding proteins are essential for regulating the actin cytoskeleton, impacting various cellular processes like movement and adhesion.
- The Ena/VASP family, discovered over 30 years ago, plays a critical role in enhancing actin filament assembly and linking molecular signaling pathways to these processes.
- This review focuses on the distinct and overlapping functions of Ena/VASP proteins specifically in cardiovascular cells, exploring their physiological roles and molecular mechanisms.
Article Abstract
Actin binding proteins are of crucial importance for the spatiotemporal regulation of actin cytoskeletal dynamics, thereby mediating a tremendous range of cellular processes. Since their initial discovery more than 30 years ago, the enabled/vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (Ena/VASP) family has evolved as one of the most fascinating and versatile family of actin regulating proteins. The proteins directly enhance actin filament assembly, but they also organize higher order actin networks and link kinase signaling pathways to actin filament assembly. Thereby, Ena/VASP proteins regulate dynamic cellular processes ranging from membrane protrusions and trafficking, and cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesions, to the generation of mechanical tension and contractile force. Important insights have been gained into the physiological functions of Ena/VASP proteins in platelets, leukocytes, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and cardiomyocytes. In this review, we summarize the unique and redundant functions of Ena/VASP proteins in cardiovascular cells and discuss the underlying molecular mechanisms.
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Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10340426 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/cells12131740 | DOI Listing |
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