Xiu-Rong Ren

beta-arrestins bind to G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK)-phosphorylated seven transmembrane receptors, desensitizing their activation of G proteins, while concurrently mediating receptor endocytosis, and some aspects of receptor signaling. We have used RNA interference to assess the roles of the four widely expressed isoforms of GRKs (GRK 2, 3, 5, and 6) in regulating beta-arrestin-mediated signaling to the mitogen-activated protein kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 by the angiotensin II type 1A receptor. Angiotensin II-stimulated receptor phosphorylation, beta-arrestin recruitment, and receptor endocytosis are all mediated primarily by GRK2/3. In contrast, inhibiting GRK 5 or 6 expression abolishes beta-arrestin-mediated ERK activation, whereas lowering GRK 2 or 3 leads to an increase in this signaling. Consistent with these findings, beta-arrestin-mediated ERK activation is enhanced by overexpression of GRK 5 and 6, and reciprocally diminished by GRK 2 and 3. These findings indicate distinct functional capabilities of beta-arrestins bound to receptors phosphorylated by different classes of GRKs.

Signaling through beta-arrestins is a recently appreciated mechanism used by seven-transmembrane receptors. Because G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK) phosphorylation of such receptors is generally a prerequisite for beta-arrestin binding, we studied the roles of different GRKs in promoting beta-arrestin-mediated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation by a typical seven-transmembrane receptor, the Gs-coupled V2 vasopressin receptor. Gs- and beta-arrestin-mediated pathways to ERK activation could be distinguished with H89, an inhibitor of protein kinase A, and beta-arrestin 2 small interfering RNA, respectively. The roles of GRK2, -3, -5, and -6 were assessed by suppressing their expression with specific small interfering RNA sequences. By using this approach, we demonstrated that GRK2 and -3 are responsible for most of the agonist-dependent receptor phosphorylation, desensitization, and recruitment of beta-arrestins. In contrast, GRK5 and -6 mediated much less receptor phosphorylation and beta-arrestin recruitment, but yet appeared exclusively to support beta-arrestin 2-mediated ERK activation. GRK2 suppression actually increased beta-arrestin-stimulated ERK activation. These results suggest that beta-arrestin recruited in response to receptor phosphorylation by different GRKs has distinct functional potentials.

Netrins are a family of secreted molecules that are important for axonal outgrowth and guidance in the developing nervous system. However, the signaling mechanisms that lie immediately downstream of netrin receptors remain poorly understood. Here we report that the netrin receptor DCC (deleted in colorectal cancer) interacts with the focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a kinase implicated in regulating cell adhesion and migration. FAK was expressed in developing brains and was localized with DCC in cultured neurons. Netrin-1 induced FAK and DCC tyrosine phosphorylation. Disruption of FAK signaling abolished netrin-1-induced neurite outgrowth and attractive growth cone turning. Taken together, these results indicate a new signaling mechanism for DCC, in which FAK is activated upon netrin-1 stimulation and mediates netrin-1 function; they also identify a critical role for FAK in axon navigation.

Proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (PYK2), a tyrosine kinase structurally related to focal adhesion kinase (FAK), is implicated in regulating cytoskeletal organization. However, mechanisms by which PYK2 participates in and regulates cytoskeletal organization remain largely unknown. Here we report identification of PSGAP, a novel protein that interacts with PYK2 and FAK and contains multiple domains including a pleckstrin homology domain, a rhoGTPase-activating protein domain, and a Src homology 3 domain. PYK2 interacts with PSGAP Src homology 3 domain via the carboxyl-terminal proline-rich sequence. PSGAP is able to increase GTPase activity of CDC42 and RhoA in vitro and in vivo. Remarkably, PYK2, but not FAK, can activate CDC42 via inhibition of PSGAP-mediated GTP hydrolysis of CDC42. Moreover, PSGAP is localized at cell periphery in fibroblasts in a pleckstrin homology domain-dependent manner. Over expression of PSGAP in fibroblasts results in reorganization of cytoskeletal structures and changes of cellular morphology, which requires rhoGTPase-activating activity. Taken together, our results suggest that PSGAP is a signaling protein essential for PYK2 regulation of cytoskeletal organization via Rho family GTPases.