Beta-Arrestins: Methods and Protocols

This volume looks at various approaches to study the pleiotropic roles of b-arrestins (b-arrs) in the control of signal transduction, and the resulting cellular and in vivo consequences that arise. The chapters in this book cover diverse topics around b-arrs such as their established roles in GPCR regulation and trafficking; regulatory scaffolding functions of b-arrs in MAPK signaling, cAMP hydrolysis and cytoskeletal dynamics; proteomic analysis of the b-arr interactome; mathematical modelling of b-arr signaling networks; functional selectivity involving biased ligands; nucleocytoplasmic trafficking and primary cilia-associated functions of b-arrs; conformational plasticity of b-arrs; and the roles of b-arrs in allergic inflammation, Type 2 Diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and cancer. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.