β-Arrestin: A Protein That Regulates β-Adrenergic Receptor Function
Abstract
Homologous or agonist-specific desensitization of β-adrenergic receptors is thought to be mediated by a specific kinase, the β-adrenergic receptor kinase (βARK). However, recent data suggest that a cofactor is required for this kinase to inhibit receptor function. The complementary DNA for such a cofactor was cloned and found to encode a 418-amino acid protein homologous to the retinal protein arrestin. The protein, termed β-arrestin, was expressed and partially purified. It inhibited the signaling function of βARK-phosphorylated β-adrenergic receptors by more than 75 percent, but not that of rhodopsin. It is proposed that β-arrestin in concert with βARK effects homologous desensitization of β-adrenergic receptors.
- Publication:
-
Science
- Pub Date:
- June 1990
- DOI:
- 10.1126/science.2163110
- Bibcode:
- 1990Sci...248.1547L