Every animal species expresses hundreds of different G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs)
that respond to a wide variety of external stimuli. GPCRs-driven signaling pathways are …

In vertebrates, the arrestins are a family of four proteins that regulate the signaling and
trafficking of hundreds of different G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Arrestin homologs …

Visual arrestin-1 plays a key role in the rapid and reproducible shutoff of rhodopsin
signaling. Its highly selective binding to light-activated phosphorylated rhodopsin is an …

A theory is presented that explains the evolution of the pinealocyte from the common
ancestral photoreceptor of both the pinealocyte and retinal photoreceptor. Central to the …

Ascidian papillae (palps) constitute a transient sensory adhesive organ that assures larval
settlement and the onset of metamorphosis to the filterfeeding adult. Despite the importance …

G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) kinases (GRKs) and β-arrestins play key roles in GPCR
and non-GPCR cellular responses. In fact, GRKs and arrestins are involved in a plethora of …

The anterior sensory vesicle of ascidian larvae contains a single large vesicle in which lie
two distinct types of pigment cells, anterior and posterior. The ultrastructure of these pigment …

Glutamate is a major neurotransmitter in the excitatory synapses of both vertebrate and
invertebrate nervous systems and is involved in many neural processes including photo …

Endocytosis of ligand-activated plasma membrane receptors has been shown to contribute
to the regulation of their downstream signaling. β-arrestins interact with the phosphorylated …

Background The cytosolic arrestin proteins mediate desensitization of activated G protein-
coupled receptors (GPCRs) via competition with G proteins for the active phosphorylated …