ENAH/VASPs
enah/vasps
ENAH/VASPs are a family of closely related proteins involved in cell motility in vertebrate and invertebrate animals. ENAH/VASPs are modular proteins that are involved in actin polymerization, as well as interaction with other proteins. Within the cell, ENAH/VASP proteins are found at the leading edge of Lamellipodia and at the tips of filopodia. Ena, the founding member of the family was discovered in a Drosophila genetic screen for mutations that act as dominant suppressors of the abl non receptor tyrosine kinase. Invertebrate animals have one Ena homologue, whereas human and other mammals have three: ENAH, VASP and EVL.