ERK and {beta}-Arrestin Interaction: A Converging Point of Signaling Pathways for Multiple Types of Cell Surface Receptors

β-Arrestin, a signal adaptor protein, mediates intracellular signal transductions through protein-protein interactions by bringing two or more proteins in proximity. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), a protein kinase in the family of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), is involved in various receptor signal pathways. Interaction of ERK with β-arrestin or formation of ERK/β-arrestin signal complex occurs in response to activation of a variety of cell surface receptors. The ERK/β-arrestin signal complex may be a common transducer to converge a variety of extracellular stimuli to similar downstream intracellular signaling pathways. By using a cell-based protein-protein interaction LinkLight assay technology, we demonstrate a direct interaction between ERK and β-arrestin in response to extracellular stimuli, which can be sensitively and quantitatively monitored. Activations of G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs), receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), and cytokine receptors promote formation of the ERK/β-arrestin signal complex. Our data indicate that the ERK/β-arrestin signal complex is a common transducer that participates in a variety of receptor signaling pathways. Furthermore, we demonstrate that receptor antagonists or kinase inhibitors can block the agonist-induced ERK and β-arrestin interaction. Thus, the ERK/β-arrestin interaction assay is useful for screening of new receptor modulators.

Source: Journal of Biomolecular Screening - February 19, 2015 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Eishingdrelo, H., Sun, W., Li, H., Wang, L., Eishingdrelo, A., Dai, S., McKew, J. C., Zheng, W. Tags: Original Research Source Type: research