Arrestins as regulatory Hubs in cancer signalling pathways

Abstract

Non-visual arrestins were initially appreciated for the roles they play in the negative regulation of G protein-coupled receptors through the processes of desensitisation and endocytosis. The arrestins are also now known as protein scaffolding platforms that act downstream of multiple types of receptors, ensuring relevant transmission of information for an appropriate cellular response. They function as regulatory hubs in several important signalling pathways that are often dysregulated in human cancers. Interestingly, several recent studies have documented changes in expression and localisation of arrestins that occur during cancer progression and that correlate with clinical outcome. Here, we discuss these advances and how changes in expression/ localisation may affect functional outputs of arrestins in cancer biology. © 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.