Identification of a motif in the carboxyl terminus of beta -arrestin2 responsible for activation of JNK3

Accumulating evidence indicates that the beta-arrestins act as scaffold molecules that couple G-protein-coupled receptors to mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathways. Recently, we identified the c-Jun N-terminal kinase 3 (JNK3) as a beta-arrestin2-interacting protein in yeast-two hybrid and co-immunoprecipitation studies. Beta-arrestin2 acts as a scaffold to enhance signaling to JNK3 stimulated by overexpression of the MAP3 kinase ASK1 or by agonist activation of the angiotensin 1A receptor. Whereas beta-arrestin2 is a very strong activator of JNK3 signaling, beta-arrestin1 is very weak in this regard. The data also indicate that the specific step enhanced by beta-arrestin2 involves phosphorylation of JNK3 by the MAP2 kinase MKK4. We reasoned that defining the region (or domain) in beta-arrestin2 responsible for high level JNK3 activation would provide insight into the mechanism by which beta-arrestin2 enhances the activity of this signaling pathway. Using chimeric beta-arrestins, we have determined that sequences in the carboxyl-terminal region of beta-arrestin2 are important for the enhancement of JNK3 phosphorylation. More detailed analysis of the carboxyl-terminal domains of the beta-arrestins indicated that beta-arrestin2, but not beta-arrestin1, contains a sequence (RRSLHL) highly homologous to the conserved docking motif present in many MAP kinase-binding proteins. Replacement of the beta-arrestin2 RRS residues with the corresponding KP residues present in beta-arrestin1 dramatically reduced both JNK3 interaction and enhancement of JNK3 phosphorylation. Conversely, replacement of the KP residues in beta-arrestin1 with RRS significantly increased both JNK3 binding and enhancement of JNK3 phosphorylation. These results delineate a mechanism by which beta-arrestin2 functions as a scaffold protein in the JNK3 signaling pathway and implicate the conserved docking site in beta-arrestin2 as an important factor in binding JNK3 and stimulating the phosphorylation of JNK3 by MKK4.     

Formyl peptide receptor-mediated ERK1/2 activation occurs through G(i) and is not dependent on beta-arrestin1/2

Formyl peptide receptor (FPR) and C5a receptor (C5aR) are chemoattractant G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) involved in the innate immune response against bacterial infections and tissue injury. Like other GPCRs, they recruit beta-arrestin1/2 to the plasma membrane and activate the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2). Previous studies with several GPCRs have suggested that beta-arrestins play an important role as signal transducers by scaffolding signaling molecules such as ERK1/2. This function of the beta-arrestins was not discovered until several years after their role in desensitization and endocytosis had been reported. In this study, we investigated the role of the beta-arrestins in the activation of ERK1/2 and receptor endocytosis. We took advantage of previously described mutants of FPR that have defects in G(i) coupling or beta-arrestin recruitment. The results obtained with the mutant FPRs, as well as experiments using an inhibitor of G(i) and cells overexpressing beta-arrestin2, showed that activation of ERK1/2 takes place through G(i) and is not affected by beta-arrestins. However, overexpression of beta-arrestin2 does enhance FPR sequestration from the cell surface, suggesting a role in desensitization, as shown for many other GPCRs. Experiments with CHO C5aR cells showed similar sensitivity to the G(i) inhibitor as CHO FPR cells, suggesting that the predominant activation of ERK1/2 through G protein may be a common characteristic among chemoattractant receptors.     

beta-arrestin-dependent, G protein-independent ERK1/2 activation by the beta2 adrenergic receptor

Physiological effects of beta adrenergic receptor (beta2AR) stimulation have been classically shown to result from G(s)-dependent adenylyl cyclase activation. Here we demonstrate a novel signaling mechanism wherein beta-arrestins mediate beta2AR signaling to extracellular-signal regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK 1/2) independent of G protein activation. Activation of ERK1/2 by the beta2AR expressed in HEK-293 cells was resolved into two components dependent, respectively, on G(s)-G(i)/protein kinase A (PKA) or beta-arrestins. G protein-dependent activity was rapid, peaking within 2-5 min, was quite transient, was blocked by pertussis toxin (G(i) inhibitor) and H-89 (PKA inhibitor), and was insensitive to depletion of endogenous beta-arrestins by siRNA. beta-Arrestin-dependent activation was slower in onset (peak 5-10 min), less robust, but more sustained and showed little decrement over 30 min. It was insensitive to pertussis toxin and H-89 and sensitive to depletion of either beta-arrestin1 or -2 by small interfering RNA. In G(s) knock-out mouse embryonic fibroblasts, wild-type beta2AR recruited beta-arrestin2-green fluorescent protein and activated pertussis toxin-insensitive ERK1/2. Furthermore, a novel beta2AR mutant (beta2AR(T68F,Y132G,Y219A) or beta2AR(TYY)), rationally designed based on Evolutionary Trace analysis, was incapable of G protein activation but could recruit beta-arrestins, undergo beta-arrestin-dependent internalization, and activate beta-arrestin-dependent ERK. Interestingly, overexpression of GRK5 or -6 increased mutant receptor phosphorylation and beta-arrestin recruitment, led to the formation of stable receptor-beta-arrestin complexes on endosomes, and increased agonist-stimulated phospho-ERK1/2. In contrast, GRK2, membrane translocation of which requires Gbetagamma release upon G protein activation, was ineffective unless it was constitutively targeted to the plasma membrane by a prenylation signal (CAAX). These findings demonstrate that the beta2AR can signal to ERK via a GRK5/6-beta-arrestin-dependent pathway, which is independent of G protein coupling.     

Constitutive ERK1/2 activation by a chimeric neurokinin 1 receptor-beta-arrestin1 fusion protein. Probing the composition and function of the G protein-coupled receptor "signalsome"

The beta-arrestins, a small family of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-binding proteins involved in receptor desensitization, have been shown to bind extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and function as scaffolds for GPCR-stimulated ERK1/2 activation. To better understand the mechanism of beta-arrestin-mediated ERK1/2 activation, we compared ERK1/2 activation by the wild-type neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor with a chimeric NK1 receptor having beta-arrestin1 fused to the receptor C terminus (NK1-betaArr1). The NK1 receptor couples to both G(s) and G(q/11), resides on the plasma membrane, and mediates rapid ERK1/2 activation and nuclear translocation in response to neurokinin A. In contrast, NK1-betaArr1 is a G protein-uncoupled "constitutively desensitized" receptor that resides almost entirely in an intracellular endosomal compartment. Despite its inability to respond to neurokinin A, we found that NK1-betaArr1 expression caused robust constitutive activation of cytosolic ERK1/2 and that endogenous Raf, MEK1/2, and ERK1/2 coprecipitated in a complex with NK1-betaArr1. While agonist-dependent ERK1/2 activation by the NK1 receptor was independent of protein kinase A (PKA) or PKC activity, NK1-betaArr1-mediated ERK1/2 activation was completely inhibited when basal PKA and PKC activity were blocked. In addition, the rate of ERK1/2 dephosphorylation was slowed in NK1-betaArr1-expressing cells, suggesting that beta-arrestin-bound ERK1/2 is protected from mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase activity. These data suggest that beta-arrestin binding to GPCRs nucleates the formation of a stable "signalsome" that functions as a passive scaffold for the ERK1/2 cascade while confining ERK1/2 activity to an extranuclear compartment.     

Differential kinetic and spatial patterns of beta-arrestin and G protein-mediated ERK activation by the angiotensin II receptor

The seven-membrane-spanning angiotensin II type 1A receptor activates the mitogen-activated protein kinases extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) by distinct pathways dependent on either G protein (likely G(q)/G(11)) or beta-arrestin2. Here we sought to distinguish the kinetic and spatial patterns that characterize ERK1/2 activated by these two mechanisms. We utilized beta-arrestin RNA interference, the protein kinase C inhibitor Ro-31-8425, a mutant angiotensin II receptor (DRY/AAY), and a mutant angiotensin II peptide (SII-angiotensin), which are incapable of activating G proteins, to isolate the two pathways in HEK-293 cells. G protein-dependent activation was rapid (peak <2 min), quite transient (t((1/2)) approximately 2 min), and led to nuclear translocation of the activated ERK1/2 as assessed by confocal microscopy. In contrast, beta-arrestin2-dependent activation was slower (peak 5-10 min), quite persistent with little decrement noted out to 90 min, and entirely confined to the cytoplasm. Moreover, ERK1/2 activated via beta-arrestin2 accumulated in a pool of cytoplasmic endosomal vesicles that also contained the internalized receptors and beta-arrestin. Such differential regulation of the temporal and spatial patterns of ERK1/2 activation via these two pathways strongly implies the existence of distinct physiological endpoints.     

Reciprocal regulation of angiotensin receptor-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinases by beta-arrestins 1 and 2

beta-Arrestin2 not only plays essential roles in seven membrane-spanning receptor desensitization and internalization but also functions as a signal transducer in mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades. Here we show that the angiotensin II type 1A receptor-mediated activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) in HEK-293 cells is increased when the cellular level of beta-arrestin1 is down-regulated by RNA interference but is decreased or eliminated when the cellular level of beta-arrestin2 is diminished. Such reciprocal effects of down-regulated levels of beta-arrestins 1 and 2 are primarily due to differences in the ability of the two forms of beta-arrestins to directly mediate ERK activation. These results are the first to demonstrate reciprocal activity of beta-arrestin isoforms on a signaling pathway and suggest that physiological levels of beta-arrestin1 may act as "dominant-negative" inhibitors of beta-arrestin2-mediated ERK activation.     

The role of beta-arrestins in the formyl peptide receptor-like 1 internalization and signaling

The N-formyl peptide receptor-like 1 (FPRL1) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that transmits intracellular signals in response to a variety of agonists, many of them being clearly implicated in human pathology. beta-arrestins are adaptor proteins that uncouple GPCRs from G protein and regulate receptor internalization. They can also function as signal transducers through the scaffolding of signaling molecules, such as components of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) cascade. We investigated the role of beta-arrestins in ligand-induced FPRL1 internalization and signaling. In HEK293 cells expressing FPRL1, fluorescence microscopy revealed that agonist-stimulated FPRL1 remained co-localized with beta-arrestins during endocytosis. Internalization of FPRL1, expressed in a mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cell line lacking endogenous beta-arrestins, was highly compromised. This distinguishes FPRL1 from the prototypical formyl peptide receptor FPR that is efficiently internalized in the absence of beta-arrestins. In both HEK293 and MEF cells, FPRL1-mediated ERK1/2 activation was a rapid and transient event. The kinetics and extent of ERK1/2 activation were not significantly modified by beta-arrestin overexpression. The pattern of FPRL1-mediated ERK1/2 activation was similar whether cells express or not beta-arrestins. Furthermore, treatment of the FPRL1 expressing cells with pertussis toxin inhibited ERK1/2 activation in MEF and in HEK293 cells. These results led us to conclude that activation of ERK1/2 mediated by FPRL1 occurs primarily through G protein signaling. Since beta-arrestin-mediated signaling has been observed essentially for receptors coupled to G proteins other than G(i), this may be a characteristic of G(i) protein-coupled chemoattractant receptors.     

Beta-arrestin-mediated signaling regulates protein synthesis

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.     

Beta-arrestin2 enhances beta2-adrenergic receptor-mediated nuclear translocation of ERK

Beta-arrestin mediates desensitization and internalization of beta-adrenergic receptors (betaARs), but also acts as a scaffold protein in extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) cascade. Thus, we have examined the role of beta-arrestin2 in the betaAR-mediated ERK signaling pathways. Isoproterenol stimulation equally activated cytoplasmic and nuclear ERK in COS-7 cells expressing beta1AR or beta2AR. However, the activity of nuclear ERK was enhanced by co-expression of beta-arrestin2 in beta2AR-but not beta1AR-expressing cells. Pertussis toxin treatment and blockade of Gbetagamma action inhibited beta-arrestin2-enhanced nuclear activation of ERK, suggesting that beta-arrestin2 promotes nuclear ERK localization in a Gbetagamma dependent mechanism upon receptor stimulation. beta2AR containing the carboxyl terminal region of beta1AR lost the beta-arrestin2-promoted nuclear translocation. As the carboxyl terminal region is important for beta-arrestin binding, these results demonstrate that recruitment of beta-arrestin2 to carboxyl terminal region of beta2AR is important for ERK localization to the nucleus.     

Expanding roles for beta-arrestins as scaffolds and adapters in GPCR signaling and trafficking

beta-arrestins play previously unsuspected and important roles as adapters and scaffolds that localize signaling proteins to ligand-activated G-protein-coupled receptors. As with the paradigmatic role of the beta-arrestins in uncoupling receptors from G proteins (desensitization), these novel functions involve the interaction of beta-arrestin with phosphorylated heptahelical receptors. beta-arrestins interact with at least two main classes of signaling proteins. First, interaction with molecules such as clathrin, AP-2 and NSF directs the clathrin-mediated internalization of G-protein-coupled receptors. Second, interaction with molecules such as Src, Raf, Erk, ASK1 and JNK3 appears to regulate several pathways that result in the activation of MAP kinases. These recent discoveries indicate that the beta-arrestins play widespread roles as scaffolds and/or adapter molecules that organize a variety of complex signaling pathways emanating from heptahelical receptors. It is likely that additional roles for the beta-arrestins remain to be discovered.     

beta-arrestin-dependent endocytosis of proteinase-activated receptor 2 is required for intracellular targeting of activated ERK1/2

Recently, a requirement for beta-arrestin-mediated endocytosis in the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) by several G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) has been proposed. However, the importance of this requirement for function of ERK1/2 is unknown. We report that agonists of Galphaq-coupled proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) stimulate formation of a multiprotein signaling complex, as detected by gel filtration, immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence. The complex, which contains internalized receptor, beta-arrestin, raf-1, and activated ERK, is required for ERK1/2 activation. However, ERK1/2 activity is retained in the cytosol and neither translocates to the nucleus nor causes proliferation. In contrast, a mutant PAR2 (PAR2deltaST363/6A), which is unable to interact with beta-arrestin and, thus, does not desensitize or internalize, activates ERK1/2 by a distinct pathway, and fails to promote both complex formation and cytosolic retention of the activated ERK1/2. Whereas wild-type PAR2 activates ERK1/2 by a PKC-dependent and probably a ras-independent pathway, PAR2(deltaST363/6A) appears to activate ERK1/2 by a ras-dependent pathway, resulting in increased cell proliferation. Thus, formation of a signaling complex comprising PAR2, beta-arrestin, raf-1, and activated ERK1/2 might ensure appropriate subcellular localization of PAR2-mediated ERK activity, and thereby determine the mitogenic potential of receptor agonists.