Arrestins in Metabolic Regulation - Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science - page 401

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Arrestins in Metabolic Regulation

,

Jian Zhao * , Gang Pei *

†
* State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes
for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, PR China
† School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, PR China

Contents
1. A Short Introduction to Metabolic Regulation 413

2. Functional Roles of b-Arrestins in Regulation of Whole-Body Energy

Balance and Body Weight Control

415

2.1 Hypothalamic signals to peripheral tissues 415

2.2 The peripheral signals 416

3. Functional Role of b-Arrestins in Regulation of Carbohydrate and Lipid

Homeostasis

417

3.1 Insulin signaling 417

3.2 Signals mediating insulin secretion 419

3.3 Glucagon and other GPCR signals 420

3.4 Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors 421

4. Conclusions 423

References 424

Abstract
This review summarizes the regulatory roles of b-arrestins in whole-body energy bal-
ance, body weight control, and carbohydrate and lipid homeostasis. Much research
has pointed in the direction of the functions of b-arrestins in mediating desensitization
and endocytosis of G protein-coupled receptors as well as in activating the receptor/
b-arrestin/ERK signaling pathway being crucial for metabolic regulation. Furthermore,
b-arrestins formdiverse signal complexes for the activation of the downstream cassettes
for the body ' s metabolic reactions. However, further studies are required to fully address
the emerging roles of b-arrestins in metabolic regulation and related diseases.

1. A SHORT INTRODUCTION TO METABOLIC
REGULATION
Metabolic regulation is the physiological mechanism by which the
body takes in nutrients and delivers energy as required. Metabolic regulation