Allosteric mechanisms underlie GPCR signaling to SH3-domain proteins through arrestin

Nat Chem Biol. 2018 Sep;14(9):876-886. doi: 10.1038/s41589-018-0115-3. Epub 2018 Aug 17.

Abstract

Signals from 800 G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to many SH3 domain-containing proteins (SH3-CPs) regulate important physiological functions. These GPCRs may share a common pathway by signaling to SH3-CPs via agonist-dependent arrestin recruitment rather than through direct interactions. In the present study, 19F-NMR and cellular studies revealed that downstream of GPCR activation engagement of the receptor-phospho-tail with arrestin allosterically regulates the specific conformational states and functional outcomes of remote β-arrestin 1 proline regions (PRs). The observed NMR chemical shifts of arrestin PRs were consistent with the intrinsic efficacy and specificity of SH3 domain recruitment, which was controlled by defined propagation pathways. Moreover, in vitro reconstitution experiments and biophysical results showed that the receptor-arrestin complex promoted SRC kinase activity through an allosteric mechanism. Thus, allosteric regulation of the conformational states of β-arrestin 1 PRs by GPCRs and the allosteric activation of downstream effectors by arrestin are two important mechanisms underlying GPCR-to-SH3-CP signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Allosteric Regulation*
  • Arrestin / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction*
  • src Homology Domains*

Substances

  • Arrestin
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled