Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: β-Arrestins are cytosolic proteins, which play key roles in the desensitization, internalization and signaling of G protein-coupled receptors. Currently, little is known about the role of β-arrestins in the internalization of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R). Therefore, the interaction between β-arrestins and CB1R, and its role in receptor internalization were studied.Materials and methods: The β-arrestin binding of C...

The octapeptide hormone angiotensin II (Ang II) exerts its major biological effects via angiotensin AT1 receptors (AT1Rs). Signaling of AT1Rs is regulated by ß-arrestins, which bind to activated AT1Rs, uncouple them form G proteins, and initiate their internalization via clathrin-coated pits and cause G protein independent MAP kinase activation. It has been shown previously that AT1Rs internalize via ß-arrestin-d...