Beta-arrestin 2 regulates zebrafish development through the hedgehog signaling pathway

Science. 2004 Dec 24;306(5705):2264-7. doi: 10.1126/science.1104193.

Abstract

beta-arrestins are multifunctional proteins that act as scaffolds and transducers of intracellular signals from heptahelical transmembrane-spanning receptors (7TMR). Hedgehog (Hh) signaling, which uses the putative 7TMR, Smoothened, is established as a fundamental pathway in development, and unregulated Hh signaling is associated with certain malignancies. Here, we show that the functional knockdown of beta-arrestin 2 in zebrafish embryos recapitulates the many phenotypes of Hh pathway mutants. Expression of wild-type beta-arrestin 2, or constitutive activation of the Hh pathway downstream of Smoothened, rescues the phenotypes caused by beta-arrestin 2 deficiency. These results suggest that a functional interaction between beta-arrestin 2 and Smoothened may be critical to regulate Hh signaling in zebrafish development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arrestins / genetics
  • Arrestins / physiology*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / genetics
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Hedgehog Proteins
  • Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.2
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Muscle Cells / cytology
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / cytology
  • Mutation
  • Patched Receptors
  • Phenotype
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / genetics
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / physiology
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Smoothened Receptor
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Zebrafish / embryology*
  • Zebrafish / genetics
  • Zebrafish / metabolism*
  • Zebrafish Proteins / genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins / metabolism
  • Zebrafish Proteins / physiology*
  • beta-Arrestin 2
  • beta-Arrestins

Substances

  • ARRB2 protein, human
  • Arrestins
  • Hedgehog Proteins
  • Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.2
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Patched Receptors
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Smoothened Receptor
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • Zebrafish Proteins
  • beta-Arrestin 2
  • beta-Arrestins
  • smo protein, zebrafish
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases