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V V Gurevich

Publications and source records attributed to V V Gurevich.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Arrestins and two receptor kinases are upregulated in Parkinson's disease with dementia.

Arrestins and G proteins-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) regulate signaling and trafficking of G protein-coupled receptors. We investigated changes in the expression of arrestins and GRKs in the striatum of patients with Parkinson's disease without (PD) or with dementia (PDD) at postmortem using Western blotting and ribonuclease protection assay. Both PD and PDD groups had similar degree of dopamine depletion in all striatal regions. Arrestin proteins and mRNAs were increased in the PDD group throughout striatum. Protein and mRNA of GRK5, the major subtype in the human striatum, and GRK3 were also upregulated, whereas GRK2 and 6 were mostly unchanged. The PD group had lower concentration of arrestins and GRKs than the PDD group. There was no statistical link between the load of Alzheimer's pathology and the expression of these signaling proteins. Upregulation of arrestins and GRK in PDD may confer resistance to the therapeutic effects of levodopa often observed in these patients. In addition, increased arrestin and GRK concentrations may lead to dementia via perturbation of multiple signaling mechanisms.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

L-DOPA reverses the MPTP-induced elevation of the arrestin2 and GRK6 expression and enhanced ERK activation in monkey brain.

Dysregulation of dopamine receptors (DARs) is believed to contribute to Parkinson disease (PD) pathology. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) undergo desensitization via activation-dependent phosphorylation by G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) followed by arrestin binding. Using quantitative Western blotting, we detected profound differences in the expression of arrestin2 and GRKs among four experimental groups of nonhuman primates: (1) normal, (2) parkinsonian, (3) parkinsonian treated with levodopa without or (4) with dyskinesia. Arrestin2 and GRK6 expression was significantly elevated in the MPTP-lesioned group in most brain regions; GRK2 was increased in caudal caudate and internal globus pallidus. Neither levodopa-treated group differed significantly from control. The only dyskinesia-specific change was an elevation of GRK3 in the ventral striatum of the dyskinetic group. Changes in arrestin and GRK expression in the MPTP group were accompanied by enhanced ERK activation and elevated total ERK expression, which were also reversed by L-DOPA. The data suggest the involvement of arrestins and GRKs in Parkinson disease pathology and the effects of levodopa treatment.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Pathogenesis of levodopa-induced dyskinesia: focus on D1 and D3 dopamine receptors.

Involuntary movements, or dyskinesia, represent a debilitating complication of levodopa therapy for Parkinson's disease. Taking advantage of a monkey brain bank constituted to study the pathophysiology of levodopa-induced dyskinesia, we here report the changes affecting D1, D2 and D3 dopamine receptors within the striatum of four experimental groups of non-human primates: normal, parkinsonian, parkinsonian treated with levodopa without or with dyskinesia. We also report the possible role of arrestin and G protein-coupled receptor kinases.

Antiparkinson Agents↗
PubMed2002

Arrestin2 and arrestin3 are differentially expressed in the rat brain during postnatal development.

Arrestins are adaptor proteins involved in homologous desensitization and trafficking of G protein-coupled receptors. Arrestins bind to activated phosphorylated receptors thus precluding further signal transduction. Two subtypes of non-visual arrestins, arrestin2 and arrestin3, have been cloned. Recently, specificity of various receptors to arrestins and differences in kinetics of receptor desensitization mediated by arrestins have been demonstrated. Both arrestins are expressed in the rat brain. However, quantitative assessment of their expression and detailed distribution are lacking. Here, we used quantitative ribonuclease protection assay and western blot to measure arrestin2 and arrestin3 mRNA and protein in the rat brain during postnatal development. In situ hybridization histochemistry was employed to study the detailed distribution of arrestin mRNAs in the adult and developing brain. Both arrestins were expressed from birth in all regions studied. Arrestin2 mRNA levels increased with development until the 14th postnatal day and then decreased, whereas arrestin2 protein levels continued to rise. Arrestin3 mRNA was maximal in neonates and then decreased, while arrestin3 protein changed little. In newborns and adults, the concentration of arrestin2 mRNA was two- to three-fold higher than that of arrestin3. In neonates, the excess of the arrestin2 protein over arrestin3 was commensurate with the excess of the arrestin2 mRNA (three-fold) but in the adult, the ratio was much higher (10-20-fold). Each arrestin demonstrated a unique distribution, although in many areas there was overlap suggesting co-localization. Both arrestins were highly expressed in the cortex and hippocampus. Arrestin2 was abundant in the thalamus, particularly in the anterior, intralaminar, and midline nuclei, while arrestin3 was abundant in the medial habenular. Arrestin3 was relatively abundant in most hypothalamic nuclei and extended amygdala. In the developing brain, arrestin3 was highly expressed in the subventricular zone, whereas arrestin2 was more abundant in differentiated areas. Our data demonstrate that arrestin2 is the major arrestin subtype in the rat brain, although arrestin3 is expressed in specific cell populations including postnatal proliferative zones. Because each arrestin appears to mediate receptor desensitization in a specific way, different kinetics of trafficking of the same receptor should be expected in different cells due to varying arrestin2/arrestin3 ratios. Thus, the response of receptors to specific drugs stimulating or blocking these receptors may depend on complement of arrestins in their target cells.

Aging↗
PubMed2001

Partial phosphorylation of the N-formyl peptide receptor inhibits G protein association independent of arrestin binding.

It is now well accepted that G protein-coupled receptors activated by agonist binding become targets for phosphorylation, leading to desensitization of the receptor. Using a series of phosphorylation deficient mutants of the N-formyl peptide receptor (FPR), we have explored the role of phosphorylation on the ability of the receptor to interact with G proteins and arrestins. Using a fluorometric assay in conjunction with solubilized receptors, we demonstrate that phosphorylation of the wild type FPR lowers its affinity for G protein, whereas mutant receptors lacking four potential phosphorylation sites retain their ability to couple to G protein. Phosphorylated mutant receptors lacking only two potential phosphorylation sites are again unable to couple to G protein. Furthermore, whereas stimulated wild type FPR in whole cells colocalizes with arrestin-2, and the solubilized, phosphorylated FPR binds arrestin-2, the stimulated receptors lacking four potential phosphorylation sites display no interaction with arrestin-2. However, the mutant receptors lacking only two potential phosphorylation sites are restored in their ability to bind and colocalize with arrestin-2. Thus, there is a submaximal threshold of FPR phosphorylation that simultaneously results in an inhibition of G protein binding and an induction of arrestin binding. These results are the first to demonstrate that less than maximal levels of receptor phosphorylation can block G protein binding, independent of arrestin binding. We therefore propose that phosphorylation alone may be sufficient to desensitize the FPR in vivo, raising the possibility that for certain G protein-coupled receptors, desensitization may not be the primary function of arrestin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Regulation of formyl peptide receptor agonist affinity by reconstitution with arrestins and heterotrimeric G proteins.

Although heptahelical chemoattractant and chemokine receptors are known to play a significant role in the host immune response and the pathophysiology of disease, the molecular mechanisms and transient macroassemblies underlying their activation and regulation remain largely uncharacterized. We report herein real time analyses of molecular assemblies involving the formyl peptide receptor (FPR), a well described member of the chemoattractant subfamily of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), with both arrestins and heterotrimeric G proteins. In our system, the ability to define and discriminate distinct, in vitro receptor complexes relies on quantitative differences in the dissociation rate of a fluorescent agonist as well as the guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S) sensitivity of the complex, as recently described for FPR-G protein interactions. In the current study, we demonstrate a concentration- and time-dependent reconstitution of liganded, phosphorylated FPR with exogenous arrestin-2 and -3 to form a high agonist affinity, nucleotide-insensitive complex with EC(50) values of 0.5 and 0.9 microm, respectively. In contrast, neither arrestin-2 nor arrestin-3 altered the ligand dissociation kinetics of activated, nonphosphorylated FPR. Moreover, we demonstrated that the addition of G proteins was unable to alter the ligand dissociation kinetics or induce a GTP gamma S-sensitive state of the phosphorylated FPR. The properties of the phosphorylated FPR were entirely reversible upon treatment of the receptor preparation with phosphatase. These results represent to our knowledge the first report of the reconstitution of a detergent-solubilized, phosphorylated GPCR with arrestins and, furthermore, the first demonstration that phosphorylation of a nonvisual GPCR is capable of efficiently blocking G protein binding in the absence of arrestin. The significance of these results with respect to receptor desensitization and internalization are discussed.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed2001

Real-time analysis of G protein-coupled receptor reconstitution in a solubilized system.

Receptor based signaling mechanisms are the primary source of cellular regulation. The superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors is the largest and most ubiquitous of the receptor mediated processes. We describe here the analysis in real-time of the assembly and disassembly of soluble G protein-coupled receptor-G protein complexes. A fluorometric method was utilized to determine the dissociation of a fluorescent ligand from the receptor solubilized in detergent. The ligand dissociation rate differs between a receptor coupled to a G protein and the receptor alone. By observing the sensitivity of the dissociation of a fluorescent ligand to the presence of guanine nucleotide, we have shown a time- and concentration-dependent reconstitution of the N-formyl peptide receptor with endogenous G proteins. Furthermore, after the clearing of endogenous G proteins, purified Galpha subunits premixed with bovine brain Gbetagamma subunits were also able to reconstitute with the solubilized receptors. The solubilized N-formyl peptide receptor and Galpha(i3) protein interacted with an affinity of approximately 10(-6) m with other alpha subunits exhibiting lower affinities (Galpha(i3) > Galpha(i2) > Galpha(i1) Galpha(o)). The N-formyl peptide receptor-G protein interactions were inhibited by peptides corresponding to the Galpha(i) C-terminal regions, by Galpha(i) mAbs, and by a truncated form of arrestin-3. This system should prove useful for the analysis of the specificity of receptor-G protein interactions, as well as for the elucidation and characterization of receptor molecular assemblies and signal transduction complexes.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Crystal structure of beta-arrestin at 1.9 A: possible mechanism of receptor binding and membrane Translocation.

BACKGROUND: Arrestins are responsible for the desensitization of many sequence-divergent G protein-coupled receptors. They compete with G proteins for binding to activated phosphorylated receptors, initiate receptor internalization, and activate additional signaling pathways. RESULTS: In order to understand the structural basis for receptor binding and arrestin's function as an adaptor molecule, we determined the X-ray crystal structure of two truncated forms of bovine beta-arrestin in its cytosolic inactive state to 1.9 A. Mutational analysis and chimera studies identify the regions in beta-arrestin responsible for receptor binding specificity. beta-arrestin demonstrates high structural homology with the previously solved visual arrestin. All key structural elements responsible for arrestin's mechanism of activation are conserved. CONCLUSIONS: Based on structural analysis and mutagenesis data, we propose a previously unappreciated part in beta-arrestin's mode of action by which a cationic amphipathic helix may function as a reversible membrane anchor. This novel activation mechanism would facilitate the formation of a high-affinity complex between beta-arrestin and an activated receptor regardless of its specific subtype. Like the interaction between beta-arrestin's polar core and the phosphorylated receptor, such a general activation mechanism would contribute to beta-arrestin's versatility as a regulator of many receptors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

An additional phosphate-binding element in arrestin molecule. Implications for the mechanism of arrestin activation.

Arrestins quench the signaling of a wide variety of G protein-coupled receptors by virtue of high-affinity binding to phosphorylated activated receptors. The high selectivity of arrestins for this particular functional form of receptor ensures their timely binding and dissociation. In a continuing effort to elucidate the molecular mechanisms responsible for arrestin's selectivity, we used the visual arrestin model to probe the functions of its N-terminal beta-strand I comprising the highly conserved hydrophobic element Val-Ile-Phe (residues 11-13) and the adjacent positively charged Lys(14) and Lys(15). Charge elimination and reversal in positions 14 and 15 dramatically reduce arrestin binding to phosphorylated light-activated rhodopsin (P-Rh*). The same mutations in the context of various constitutively active arrestin mutants (which bind to P-Rh*, dark phosphorylated rhodopsin (P-Rh), and unphosphorylated light-activated rhodopsin (Rh*)) have minimum impact on P-Rh* and Rh* binding and virtually eliminate P-Rh binding. These results suggest that the two lysines "guide" receptor-attached phosphates toward the phosphorylation-sensitive trigger Arg(175) and participate in phosphate binding in the active state of arrestin. The elimination of the hydrophobic side chains of residues 11-13 (triple mutation V11A, I12A, and F13A) moderately enhances arrestin binding to P-Rh and Rh*. The effects of triple mutation V11A, I12A, and F13A in the context of phosphorylation-independent mutants suggest that residues 11-13 play a dual role. They stabilize arrestin's basal conformation via interaction with hydrophobic elements in arrestin's C-tail and alpha-helix I as well as its active state by interactions with alternative partners. In the context of the recently solved crystal structure of arrestin's basal state, these findings allow us to propose a model of initial phosphate-driven structural rearrangements in arrestin that ultimately result in its transition into the active receptor-binding state.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Threonine 180 is required for G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 3- and beta-arrestin 2-mediated desensitization of the mu-opioid receptor in Xenopus oocytes.

To determine the sites in the mu-opioid receptor (MOR) critical for agonist-dependent desensitization, we constructed and coexpressed MORs lacking potential phosphorylation sites along with G-protein activated inwardly rectifying potassium channels composed of K(ir)3.1 and K(ir)3.4 subunits in Xenopus oocytes. Activation of MOR by the stable enkephalin analogue, [d-Ala(2),MePhe(4),Glyol(5)]enkephalin, led to homologous MOR desensitization in oocytes coexpressing both G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 3 (GRK3) and beta-arrestin 2 (arr3). Coexpression with either GRK3 or arr3 individually did not significantly enhance desensitization of responses evoked by wild type MOR activation. Mutation of serine or threonine residues to alanines in the putative third cytoplasmic loop and truncation of the C-terminal tail did not block GRK/arr3-mediated desensitization of MOR. Instead, alanine substitution of a single threonine in the second cytoplasmic loop to produce MOR(T180A) was sufficient to block homologous desensitization. The insensitivity of MOR(T180A) might have resulted either from a block of arrestin activation or arrestin binding to MOR. To distinguish between these alternatives, we expressed a dominant positive arrestin, arr2(R169E), that desensitizes G protein-coupled receptors in an agonist-dependent but phosphorylation-independent manner. arr2(R169E) produced robust desensitization of MOR and MOR(T180A) in the absence of GRK3 coexpression. These results demonstrate that the T180A mutation probably blocks GRK3- and arr3-mediated desensitization of MOR by preventing a critical agonist-dependent receptor phosphorylation and suggest a novel GRK3 site of regulation not yet described for other G-protein-coupled receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Conserved phosphoprotein interaction motif is functionally interchangeable between ataxin-7 and arrestins.

Olivopontocerebellar atrophy with retinal degeneration is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder that belongs to the subtype II of the autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias and is characterized by early-onset cerebellar and macular degeneration preceded by diagnostically useful tritan colorblindness. The gene mutated in the disease (SCA7) has been mapped to chromosome 3p12-13.5, and positional cloning identified the cause of the disease as CAG repeat expansion in this gene. The SCA7 gene product, ataxin-7, is an 897 amino acid protein with an expandable polyglutamine tract close to its N-terminus. No clues to ataxin-7 function have been obtained from sequence database searches. Here we report that ataxin-7 has a motif of ca. 50 amino acids, related to the phosphate-binding site of arrestins. To test the relevance of this sequence similarity, we introduced the putative ataxin-7 phosphate-binding site into visual arrestin and beta-arrestin. Both chimeric arrestins retain receptor-binding affinity and show characteristic high selectivity for phosphorylated activated forms of rhodopsin and beta-adrenergic receptor, respectively. Although the insertion of a Gly residue (absent in arrestins but present in the putative phosphate-binding site of ataxin-7) disrupts the function of visual arrestin-ataxin-7 chimera, it enhances the function of beta-arrestin-ataxin-7 chimera. Taken together, our data suggest that the arrestin-like site in the ataxin-7 sequence is a functional phosphate-binding site. The presence of the phosphate-binding site in ataxin-7 suggests that this protein may be involved in phosphorylation-dependent binding to its protein partner(s) in the cell.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

The ADP ribosylation factor nucleotide exchange factor ARNO promotes beta-arrestin release necessary for luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor desensitization.

Desensitization of guanine nucleotide binding protein-coupled receptors is a ubiquitous phenomenon characterized by declining effector activity upon persistent agonist stimulation. The luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (LH/CGR) in ovarian follicles exhibits desensitization of effector adenylyl cyclase activity in response to the mid-cycle surge of LH. We have previously shown that uncoupling of the agonist-activated LH/CGR from the stimulatory G protein (G(s)) is dependent on GTP and attributable to binding of beta-arrestin present in adenylyl cyclase-rich follicular membrane fraction to the third intracellular (3i) loop of the receptor. Here, we report that LH/CGR-dependent desensitization is mimicked by ADP ribosylation factor nucleotide-binding site opener, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor of the small G proteins ADP ribosylation factors (Arfs) 1 and 6, and blocked by synthetic N-terminal Arf6 peptide, suggesting that the GTP-dependent step of LH/CGR desensitization is receptor-dependent Arf6 activation. Arf activation by GTP and ADP ribosylation factor nucelotide-binding site opener promotes the release of docked beta-arrestin from the membrane, making beta-arrestin available for LH/CGR; Arf6 but not Arf1 peptides block beta-arrestin release from the membrane. Thus, LH/CGR appears to activate two membrane delimited signaling cascades via two types of G proteins: heterotrimeric G(s) and small G protein Arf6. Arf6 activation releases docked beta-arrestin necessary for receptor desensitization, providing a feedback mechanism for receptor self-regulation.

ADP-Ribosylation Factor 6↗
PubMed2000

Arrestin binding to the M(2) muscarinic acetylcholine receptor is precluded by an inhibitory element in the third intracellular loop of the receptor.

Desensitization of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) involves the binding of members of the family of arrestins to the receptors. In the model system involving the visual GPCR rhodopsin, activation and phosphorylation of rhodopsin is thought to convert arrestin from a low to high affinity binding state. Phosphorylation of the M(2) muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) has been shown to be required for binding of arrestins 2 and 3 in vitro and for arrestin-enhanced internalization in intact cells (Pals-Rylaarsdam, R., and Hosey, M. M. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 14152-14158). For the M(2) mAChR, arrestin binding requires phosphorylation at multiple serine and threonine residues at amino acids 307-311 in the third intracellular (i3) loop. Here, we have investigated the molecular basis for the requirement of receptor phosphorylation for arrestin binding. Constructs of arrestin 2 that can bind to other GPCRs in a phosphorylation-independent manner were unable to interact with a mutant M(2) mAChR in which the Ser/Thr residues at 307-311 were mutated to alanines. However, although phosphorylation-deficient mutants of the M(2) mAChR that lacked 50-157 amino acids from the i3 loop were unable to undergo agonist-dependent internalization when expressed alone in tsA201 cells, co-expression of arrestin 2 or 3 restored agonist-dependent internalization. Furthermore, a deletion of only 15 amino acids (amino acids 304-319) was sufficient to allow for phosphorylation-independent arrestin-receptor interaction. These results indicate that phosphorylation at residues 307-311 does not appear to be required to activate arrestin into a high affinity binding state. Instead, phosphorylation at residues 307-311 appears to facilitate the removal of an inhibitory constraint that precludes receptor-arrestin association in the absence of receptor phosphorylation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Cloning and functional characterization of salamander rod and cone arrestins.

PURPOSE: To clone, localize, and determine functional binding characteristics of rod and cone arrestins from the retina of the tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum). METHODS: Two arrestins from salamander retina were cloned on the basis of their homology to known arrestins from other species. The expression pattern of these arrestins (SalArr1 and SalArr2) in the retina was determined by immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization. SalArr1 and SalArr2 were expressed and functionally characterized. RESULTS: Both immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization show that SalArr1 and SalArr2 localized specifically to rod and cone photoreceptors, respectively. SalArr1 demonstrated a characteristic high selectivity for light-activated phosphorylated rhodopsin (P-Rh*) and significant species selectivity, binding preferentially to amphibian rhodopsin over bovine rhodopsin. Mutant constitutively active forms of SalArr1 demonstrated a 2- to 4-fold increase in P-Rh* binding (compared with wild-type protein) and an even more dramatic (up to 25-fold) increase in binding to unphosphorylated Rh* and dark P-Rh. Constitutively active SalArr1 mutants also showed a reduced specificity for amphibian rhodopsin. The ability of Escherichia coli-expressed SalArr1, SalArr2, and an SalArr1-3A (L369A,V370A,F371A) mutant to bind to frog Rh* and P-Rh* and to compete with tritiated SalArr1 for amphibian P-Rh* was compared. SalArr1 and its mutant form bound to amphibian P-Rh* with high affinity (Ki = 179 and 74 nM, respectively), whereas the affinity of SalArr2 for P-Rh* was substantially lower (Ki = 9.1 microM). CONCLUSIONS: SalArr1 and SalArr2 are salamander rod and cone arrestins, respectively. Crucial regulatory elements in SalArr1 are conserved and play functional roles similar to those of their counterparts in bovine rod arrestin. Rod and cone arrestins are relatively specific for their respective receptors.

Ambystoma↗
PubMed1999

Visual arrestin activity may be regulated by self-association.

Visual arrestin is the protein responsible for rapid quenching of G-protein-coupled receptor signaling. Arrestin exists as a latent inhibitor which must be 'activated' upon contact with a phosphorylated receptor. X-ray crystal structures of visual arrestin exhibit a tetrameric arrangement wherein an asymmetric dimer with an extensive interface between conformationally different subunits is related to a second asymmetric dimer by a local two-fold rotation axis. To test the biological relevance of this molecular organization in solution, we carried out a sedimentation equilibrium analysis of arrestin at both crystallographic and physiological protein concentrations. While the tetrameric form can exist at the high concentrations used in crystallography experiments, we find that arrestin participates in a monomer/dimer equilibrium at concentrations more likely to be physiologically relevant. Solution interaction analysis of a proteolytically modified, constitutively active form of arrestin shows diminished dimerization. We propose that self-association of arrestin may provide a mechanism for regulation of arrestin activity by (i) ensuring an adequate supply for rapid quenching of the visual signal and (ii) limiting the availability of active monomeric species, thereby preventing inappropriate signal termination.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

beta-arrestin-dependent desensitization of luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor is prevented by a synthetic peptide corresponding to the third intracellular loop of the receptor.

Desensitization is a ubiquitous response of guanine nucleotide-binding protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) characterized by the waning of effector activity despite continued presence of agonist. Binding of an arrestin to the activated, often phosphorylated GPCR triggers desensitization. We reported for the luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (LH/CG R) that beta-arrestin tightly bound to porcine ovarian follicular membranes mediates agonist-dependent desensitization of LH/CG R-stimulated adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity (Mukherjee, S., Palczewski, K., Gurevich, V. V., Benovic, J. L., Banga, J. P., and Hunzicker-Dunn, M. (1999) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 96, 493-498). We now show that addition of a synthetic peptide corresponding to the entire third intracellular loop (3i) of the LH/CG R completely and specifically reverses desensitization of AC activity, with an ED50 of 10 microM but does not modulate basal, hCG-stimulated, or forskolin-stimulated AC activities. beta-Arrestin binds selectively to the 3i peptide coupled to activated Sepharose. Desensitization of LH/CG R-stimulated AC activity is rescued when the 3i peptide is preincubated with exogenous beta-arrestin. These results show that endogenous beta-arrestin participates in cell-free desensitization of agonist-dependent LH/CG R-stimulated AC activity in follicular membranes by interacting directly with the 3i loop of the receptor, thereby preventing Gs activation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

How does arrestin respond to the phosphorylated state of rhodopsin?

Visual arrestin quenches light-induced signaling by binding to light-activated, phosphorylated rhodopsin (P-Rh*). Here we present structure-function data, which in conjunction with the refined crystal structure of arrestin (Hirsch, J. A., Schubert, C., Gurevich, V. V., and Sigler, P. B. (1999) Cell, in press), support a model for the conversion of a basal or "inactive" conformation of free arrestin to one that can bind to and inhibit the light activated receptor. The trigger for this transition is an interaction of the phosphorylated COOH-terminal segment of the receptor with arrestin that disrupts intramolecular interactions, including a hydrogen-bonded network of buried, charged side chains, referred to as the "polar core." This disruption permits structural adjustments that allow arrestin to bind to the receptor. Our mutational survey identifies residues in arrestin (Arg175, Asp30, Asp296, Asp303, Arg382), which when altered bypass the need for the interaction with the receptor's phosphopeptide, enabling arrestin to bind to activated, nonphosphorylated rhodopsin (Rh*). These mutational changes disrupt interactions and substructures which the crystallographic model and previous biochemical studies have shown are responsible for maintaining the inactive state. The molecular basis for these disruptions was confirmed by successfully introducing structure-based second site substitutions that restored the critical interactions. The nearly absolute conservation of the mutagenically sensitive residues throughout the arrestin family suggests that this mechanism is likely to be applicable to arrestin-mediated desensitization of most G-protein-coupled receptors.

Animals↗