beta-arrestin has been originally described as a component of Clathrin-mediated G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) internalization. Recent studies demonstrated that beta-arrestin is required for Dishevelled (Dsh/Dvl) function in canonical and non-canonical Wnt-pathways. A number of new variations of Wnt-signaling, especially in noncanonical pathways has been described lately, most of them involving Dsh or trimeric G-protein signaling and thus likely require beta-arrestin function. Therefore, beta-arrestin might be a central part of the machinery that regulates the activity of the individual branches of Wnt signaling. To test this hypothesis, we will characterize the molecular function and interacting proteins of beta-arrestin in different Wnt-pathways biochemically and functionally in the context of Xenopus gastrulation movements, a process controlled by balanced activity of multiple branches of Wnt-signaling. These studies will provide deeper insight into the cross-regulation between distinct branches of Wnt signaling within a tissue and shed light on the Wnt-signaling network. (en)
Česká část projektu se zaměří na poznání molekulárních a funkční validaci významu beta-arrestinu v jednotlivých odnožích Wnt dráhy. Tento výzkum bude zahrnovat funkční a biochemickou analýzu role beta-arrestinu ve Wnt drahách indukovaných overexpresí jednotlivých receptorů a kináz.