title: beta-arrestins: traffic cops of cell signaling.
abstract: Once thought to function only in the desensitization of seven membrane spanning receptors (7MSRs), the ubiquitous beta-arrestin molecules are increasingly appreciated to play important roles in the endocytosis and signaling of these receptors. These functions reflect the ability of the beta-arrestins to bind an ever-growing list of signaling and endocytic elements, often in an agonist-dependent fashion. One heavily studied system is that leading to MAP kinase activation via beta-arrestin-mediated scaffolding of these pathways in a receptor-dependent fashion. The beta-arrestins are also found to be involved in the regulation of novel receptor systems, such as Frizzled and TGFbeta receptors.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 3821, Durham, NC 27710, USA. lefko001@receptor-biol.duke.edu
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lefkowitz
authors.forename: Erin J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Whalen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019390:Arrestins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D000071557:beta-Arrestins
chemical_list: D019390:Arrestins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D000071557:beta-Arrestins; C450520:seven-transmembrane G-protein-coupled receptor