scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question

Showing papers by "Robert J. Lefkowitz published in 2010"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Seven-transmembrane receptors are the largest class of receptors in the human genome and are common targets for therapeutics, and several biased ligands and receptors have been identified that preferentially signal through either G protein- or β-arrestin-mediated pathways.
Abstract: Seven-transmembrane receptors (7TMRs; also known as G protein-coupled receptors) are the largest class of receptors in the human genome and are common targets for therapeutics. Originally identified as mediators of 7TMR desensitization, beta-arrestins (arrestin 2 and arrestin 3) are now recognized as true adaptor proteins that transduce signals to multiple effector pathways. Signalling that is mediated by beta-arrestins has distinct biochemical and functional consequences from those mediated by G proteins, and several biased ligands and receptors have been identified that preferentially signal through either G protein- or beta-arrestin-mediated pathways. These ligands are not only useful tools for investigating the biochemistry of 7TMR signalling, they also have the potential to be developed into new classes of therapeutics.

780 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that ligand binding to the decoy receptor CXCR7 does not result in activation of signaling pathways typical of G proteins but does activate MAP kinases through β-arrestin in transiently transfected cells, which suggests that other receptors that are currently thought to be orphans or decoys may also signal through such nonclassical pathways.
Abstract: Ubiquitously expressed seven-transmembrane receptors (7TMRs) classically signal through heterotrimeric G proteins and are commonly referred to as G protein-coupled receptors. It is now recognized that 7TMRs also signal through β-arrestins, which act as versatile adapters controlling receptor signaling, desensitization, and trafficking. Most endogenous receptors appear to signal in a balanced fashion using both β-arrestin and G protein-mediated pathways. Some 7TMRs are thought to be nonsignaling “decoys” because of their inability to activate typical G protein signaling pathways; it has been proposed that these receptors act to scavenge ligands or function as coreceptors. Here we demonstrate that ligand binding to the decoy receptor CXCR7 does not result in activation of signaling pathways typical of G proteins but does activate MAP kinases through β-arrestins in transiently transfected cells. Furthermore, we observe that vascular smooth muscle cells that endogenously express CXCR7 migrate to its ligand interferon-inducible T-cell alpha chemoattractant (ITAC), an effect that is significantly attenuated by treatment with either a CXCR7 antagonist or β-arrestin depletion by siRNA. This example of an endogenous “β-arrestin-biased” 7TMR that signals through β-arrestin in the absence of G protein activation demonstrates that some 7TMRs encoded in the genome have evolved to signal through β-arrestin exclusively and suggests that other receptors that are currently thought to be orphans or decoys may also signal through such nonclassical pathways.

516 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This analysis identifies an AT1aR-mediated cytoskeletal reorganization network whereby β-arrestin regulates phosphorylation of several key proteins, including cofilin and slingshot in a rapidly evolving area of 7TMR signaling.
Abstract: β-Arrestin–mediated signaling downstream of seven transmembrane receptors (7TMRs) is a relatively new paradigm for signaling by these receptors. We examined changes in protein phosphorylation occurring when HEK293 cells expressing the angiotensin II type 1A receptor (AT1aR) were stimulated with the β-arrestin–biased ligand Sar1, Ile4, Ile8-angiotensin (SII), a ligand previously found to signal through β-arrestin–dependent, G protein-independent mechanisms. Using a phospho-antibody array containing 46 antibodies against signaling molecules, we found that phosphorylation of 35 proteins increased upon SII stimulation. These SII-mediated phosphorylation events were abrogated after depletion of β-arrestin 2 through siRNA-mediated knockdown. We also performed an MS-based quantitative phosphoproteome analysis after SII stimulation using a strategy of stable isotope labeling of amino acids in cell culture (SILAC). We identified 1,555 phosphoproteins (4,552 unique phosphopeptides), of which 171 proteins (222 phosphopeptides) showed increased phosphorylation, and 53 (66 phosphopeptides) showed decreased phosphorylation upon SII stimulation of the AT1aR. This study identified 38 protein kinases and three phosphatases whose phosphorylation status changed upon SII treatment. Using computational approaches, we performed system-based analyses examining the β-arrestin–mediated phosphoproteome including construction of a kinase-substrate network for β-arrestin–mediated AT1aR signaling. Our analysis demonstrates that β-arrestin–dependent signaling processes are more diverse than previously appreciated. Notably, our analysis identifies an AT1aR-mediated cytoskeletal reorganization network whereby β-arrestin regulates phosphorylation of several key proteins, including cofilin and slingshot. This study provides a system-based view of β-arrestin–mediated phosphorylation events downstream of a 7TMR and opens avenues for research in a rapidly evolving area of 7TMR signaling.

191 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The data provide the first evidence of a functional link between β-arrestins and TRPV4 and uncovers an entirely novel mechanism to maintain appropriate intracellular Ca2+ concentration to avoid excessive Ca2- signaling.

97 citations