Differential β-arrestin-dependent conformational signaling and cellular responses revealed by angiotensin analogs

Sci Signal. 2012 Apr 24;5(221):ra33. doi: 10.1126/scisignal.2002522.

Abstract

The angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) and its octapeptide ligand, angiotensin II (AngII), engage multiple downstream signaling pathways, including those mediated by heterotrimeric guanosine triphosphate-binding proteins (G proteins) and those mediated by β-arrestin. Here, we examined AT1R-mediated Gα(q) and β-arrestin signaling with multiple AngII analogs bearing substitutions at position 8, which is critical for binding to the AT1R and its activation of G proteins. Using assays that discriminated between ligand-promoted recruitment of β-arrestin to the AT1R and its resulting conformational rearrangement, we extend the concept of biased signaling to include the analog's propensity to differentially promote conformational changes in β-arrestin, two responses that were differentially affected by distinct G protein-coupled receptor kinases. The efficacy of AngII analogs in activating extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 correlated with the stability of the complexes between β-arrestin and AT1R in endosomes, rather than with the extent of β-arrestin recruitment to the receptor. In vascular smooth muscle cells, the ligand-induced conformational changes in β-arrestin correlated with whether the ligand promoted β-arrestin-dependent migration or proliferation. Our data indicate that biased signaling not only occurs between G protein- and β-arrestin-mediated pathways but also occurred at the level of the AT1R and β-arrestin, such that different AngII analogs selectively engaged distinct β-arrestin conformations, which led to specific signaling events and cell responses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin II / analogs & derivatives*
  • Angiotensin II / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Arrestins / genetics
  • Arrestins / metabolism*
  • Cattle
  • Endosomes / genetics
  • Endosomes / metabolism
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects*
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / physiology
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / genetics
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / metabolism
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / genetics
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / metabolism
  • Multiprotein Complexes / genetics
  • Multiprotein Complexes / metabolism
  • Protein Conformation
  • Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / genetics
  • Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / metabolism*
  • beta-Arrestins

Substances

  • Arrestins
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1
  • beta-Arrestins
  • Angiotensin II
  • MAPK1 protein, human
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3