'ENA/VASP Homology proteins' or
'EVH' proteins are a family of closely related
proteins involved in
cell motility in
vertebrate and
invertebrate animals. EVH proteins are modular proteins that are involved in
actin polymerization, as well as interaction with other proteins. Within the cell, Ena/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 mammals have three, in mice named Mena, VASP, and Evl.