Regulation of WASP/WAVE proteins: making a long story short

Despite their homology, the regulation of WASP and WAVE, activators of Arp2/3-dependent actin polymerization, has always been thought to be different. Several recent studies have revealed new aspects of their regulation, highlighting its complexity and the crucial role of posttranslational modifications. New data also suggest additional functions for WASP family proteins, pushing us to reconsider existing models.