Gyrate: CCM3 dances with a different angiogenic partner.

A healthy vasculature is an essential component of development and is regulated by different signaling pathways. One of the most critical pathways involved is the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway. Components of this pathway serve as the first marker of primitive endothelial cells and are instrumental in inducing the initial differentiation of endothelial cells and later refining them into either arteries or veins. However, the regulation of VEGF signaling remains a mystery, with most studies focusing on the downstream components of this signaling cascade. New evidence shows that the protein cerebral cavernous malformation 3 (CCM3) is a key regulator of the VEGF pathway, bringing to light a previously unknown component of the VEGF signaling axis and opening the door to an exciting new era of vasculogenic research.