Critical Roles of Phosphorylation and Actin Binding Motifs, but Not the Central Proline-rich Region, for Ena/Vasodilator-stimulated Phosphoprotein (VASP) Function during Cell Migration

The Ena/vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) protein family is implicated in the regulation of a number of actin-based cellular processes, including lamellipodial protrusion necessary for whole cell translocation. A growing body of evidence derived largely from in vitro biochemical experiments using purified proteins, cell-free extracts, and pathogen motility has begun to suggest various mechanistic roles for Ena/VASP proteins in the control of actin dynamics. Using complementation of phenotypes in Ena/VASP-deficient cells and overexpression in normal fibroblasts, we have assayed the function of a panel of mutants in one member of this family, Mena, by mutating highly conserved sequence elements found in this protein family. Surprisingly, deletion of sites required for binding of the actin monomer-binding protein profilin, a known ligand of Ena/VASP proteins, has no effect on the ability of Mena to regulate random cell motility. Our analysis revealed two features essential for Ena/VASP function in cell movement, cyclic nucleotide-dependent kinase phosphorylation sites and an F-actin binding motif. Interestingly, expression of the C-terminal EVH2 domain alone is sufficient to complement loss of Ena/VASP function in random cell motility

Energy scan of the e+e−→hb(nP)π+π−e^+e^- \to h_b(nP)\pi^+\pi^- (n=1,2)(n=1,2) cross sections and evidence for the Υ(11020)\Upsilon(11020) decays into charged bottomonium-like states

Using data collected with the Belle detector in the energy region of the $\Upsilon(10860)$ and $\Upsilon(11020)$ resonances we measure the $e^+e^- \to h_b(nP)\pi^+\pi^-$ $(n=1,2)$ cross sections. Their energy dependences show clear $\Upsilon(10860)$ and $\Upsilon(11020)$ peaks with a small or no non-resonant contribution. We study resonant structure of the $\Upsilon(11020) \to h_b(nP)\pi^+\pi^-$ transitions and find evidence that they proceed entirely via intermediate charged bottomonium-like states $Z_b(10610)$ and/or $Z_b(10650)$ (with current statistics we can not discriminate hypotheses of one or two intermediate states).Using data collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e- collider, we measure the energy dependence of the e+e-→hb(nP)π+π- (n=1, 2) cross sections from thresholds up to 11.02 GeV. We find clear ϒ(10860) and ϒ(11020) peaks with little or no continuum contribution. We study the resonant substructure of the ϒ(11020)→hb(nP)π+π- transitions and find evidence that they proceed entirely via the intermediate isovector states Zb(10610) and Zb(10650). The relative fraction of these states is loosely constrained by the current data: The hypothesis that only Zb(10610) is produced is excluded at the level of 3.3 standard deviations, while the hypothesis that only Zb(10650) is produced is not excluded at a significant level.Using data collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+e^-$ collider, we measure the energy dependence of the $e^+e^- \to h_b(nP)\pi^+\pi^-$ $(n=1,2)$ cross sections from thresholds up to $11.02\,$GeV. We find clear $\Upsilon(10860)$ and $\Upsilon(11020)$ peaks with little or no continuum contribution. We study the resonant substructure of the $\Upsilon(11020) \to h_b(nP)\pi^+\pi^-$ transitions and find evidence that they proceed entirely via the intermediate isovector states $Z_b(10610)$ and $Z_b(10650)$. The relative fraction of these states is loosely constrained by the current data: the hypothesis that only $Z_b(10610)$ is produced is excluded at the level of 3.3 standard deviations, while the hypothesis that only $Z_b(10650)$ is produced is not excluded at a significant level