Beta-arrestin-mediated signaling regulates protein synthesis

J Biol Chem. 2008 Apr 18;283(16):10611-20. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M710515200. Epub 2008 Feb 14.

Abstract

Seven transmembrane receptors (7TMRs) exert strong regulatory influences on virtually all physiological processes. Although it is historically assumed that heterotrimeric G proteins mediate these actions, there is a newer appreciation that beta-arrestins, originally thought only to desensitize G protein signaling, also serve as independent receptor signal transducers. Recently, we found that activation of ERK1/2 by the angiotensin receptor occurs via both of these distinct pathways. In this work, we explore the physiological consequences of beta-arrestin ERK1/2 signaling and delineate a pathway that regulates mRNA translation and protein synthesis via Mnk1, a protein that both physically interacts with and is activated by beta-arrestins. We show that beta-arrestin-dependent activation of ERK1/2, Mnk1, and eIF4E are responsible for increasing translation rates in both human embryonic kidney 293 and rat vascular smooth muscle cells. This novel demonstration that beta-arrestins regulate protein synthesis reveals that the spectrum of beta-arrestin-mediated signaling events is broader than previously imagined.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arrestins / metabolism*
  • COS Cells
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Enzyme Activation
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / metabolism
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / metabolism
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / metabolism
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • beta-Arrestins

Substances

  • Arrestins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • beta-Arrestins
  • MKNK1 protein, human
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3