Bves: ten years after.

Bves was discovered in 1999 by two independent laboratories using screens to identify novel genes that were highly expressed in the developing heart (Reese et al., 1999; Andree et al., 2000). As an evolutionarily conserved transmembrane protein, Bves is postulated to play a role in cell adhesion and cell motility. In studies of Bves protein disruption, there have been multiple phenotypes, but few molecular mechanisms have been advanced to explain the underlying cause of these phenotypes. As the molecular function of Bves protein begins to be uncovered, it is now time to review the literature to examine the significance of this work and future directions of study. This review summarizes the literature on this unique protein and explores new and exciting data that support emerging themes on its molecular function.